Israel’s war on Gaza LIFE AND DEATH
Twenty-three months into the war, Gaza lies in ruins: over 2.8% of its pre-war population have been killed, more than 7% wounded, nearly all of its 2.3 million people displaced and mass hunger is spreading across the strip. Famine, the scale of death, destruction of infrastructure, and starvation have intensified accusations that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in the enclave.
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Killing members of the group
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Causing serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group
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Deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part
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Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group
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Forcibly transferring children of the group to another group
When Israel launched its war on Gaza, following the October 7, 2023 cross-border attack by Hamas — which killed at least 1,200 people — it declared two objectives: the destruction of Hamas and the release of the 251 hostages taken by the Palestinian militant group. Twenty-two months later, both goals remain largely unmet. Hamas is far from being destroyed. Of the hostages, 148 were released and 56 bodies returned during two short ceasefires — in November 2023, and between January and March 2025. Israeli troops rescued eight hostages, while around 50 remain in captivity.
On the other side, Israel’s war has devastated Gaza, a 365 sq. km territory, home to 2.3 million people, sandwiched between Israel and the Mediterranean Sea. At least 64,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began — that is 2.8% of Gaza’s entire population. Of the dead, more than 18,000 are children. Thousands more remain missing. More than 1,60,000 people, over 7% of Gaza’s population, have been wounded. These figures make Gaza one of the deadliest battlefields in the 21st century. Nearly the entire population of Gaza has been displaced, most of it multiple times. Since March, when the second ceasefire collapsed, Israel has tightened its blockade of the enclave, triggering a mass starvation crisis. On August 22, 2025, a UN body officially declared a famine in Gaza.
According to the UN, at least 1,300 Palestinians were shot dead at aid centres while seeking food since May. Dozens of children have died from starvation and malnutrition. The scale of death, starvation and displacement has intensified accusations that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has rejected these charges, insisting that Israel is fighting Hamas. Efforts to reach a ceasefire have stalled, as there is no consensus on the “day after” in Gaza. Hamas demands a full Israeli withdrawal, while Mr. Netanyahu insists on “total victory”. As the war grinds on, the suffering in Gaza deepens, with no end in sight.
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Editor’s Note
The following article contains images and descriptions of violence that some readers may find distressing.
Reader discretion is advised.
Total death count 64,522 As of September 7, 2025
Daily death toll in Gaza
The chart shows the cumulative daily death toll in Gaza since October 7, 2023
(Data for the charts available till July 2025)
Number of children killed
The chart shows the cumulative monthly death toll of children in Gaza. An average of 815 children have been killed every month since October 7, 2023
Breakdown of child deaths by age group
- 0-12 months: 937
- 1-5 years: 4517
- 6-12 years: 6325
- 13-17 years: 5342
(Data available till June 2025)
Number of Persons injured
The chart shows the cumulative monthly number of people injured in Gaza. An average of 6,800 persons have been injured every month since October 7, 2023.
According to UNICEF, the Gaza Strip has the highest number of child amputees per capita than anywhere else in the world
(Data available till June 2025)
Disrupted food supply
The chart shows the number of food aid trucks that entered Gaza every month. After Israel imposed new customs rules that affected UN convoys, aid deliveries dropped in October 2024 to their lowest point that year– just 1,111 food trucks.
The United Nations officially declared a famine in Gaza on August 22, 2025.
(Data available till August 2025)
Alarming food insecurity
The chart depicts acute food insecurity levels (as defined by IPC) based on the severity of food consumption gaps at the household level (*Projected)
(Data available till 30 September 2025, Projected*)
Crisis: Barely meet minimum food needs by depleting key livelihood assets
Emergency: Severe food gaps managed only through extreme coping and asset liquidation; high malnutrition and excess deaths
Catastrophe: Total lack of food and basic needs despite all coping efforts, marked by starvation, deaths and critical malnutrition
Surging cases of malnutrition
The chart shows acute malnutrition cases among children aged 6 months to 5 years
(Data available till 10 May 2025)
Aid-seekers killed at distribution sites
The chart shows the cumulative number of persons killed near aid distribution centres in Gaza since May 27, 2025. Nearly a thousand people have been killed while trying to access food near aid centres
(Data available till 27 May 2025)
Crop land destroyed
The chart shows cropland damaged in the ongoing conflict
In Gaza, 86% of the total cropland was damaged in the ongoing conflict
(Data available till July 2025)
Reduced to rubble
Apart from these, over 4 lakh homes were destroyed in the conflict.
Attacks on health services
The cumulative number of attacks on health aid, facilities, transport and personnel. Attacks include obstruction or use of force or search operations on facilities and personnel
(Data available till August 2025)
