Women, Children, and Elderly Make Up 65% of Gaza Death Toll: Gaza Officials
According to local authorities in Gaza, around 65% of the Palestinians killed in Israel’s ongoing military campaign are women, children, and elderly individuals.
In a statement released Sunday, the Gaza-based Government Media Office reported that since October 7, 2023, Israeli attacks have claimed the lives of more than 18,000 children and 12,400 women. It also stated that 2,180 families have been completely wiped out, while another 5,070 families have only one surviving member.
The Israeli offensive has also led to the deaths of 1,400 healthcare workers, 212 journalists, and 750 humanitarian staff. The statement accused Israeli forces of deliberate attacks that have devastated Gaza’s healthcare system and sought to silence the media.
It cited evidence from military leaks and testimonies by Israeli pilots, as well as documentation by human rights groups, to support claims that civilian neighborhoods and homes were intentionally targeted.
“These actions point clearly to a systematic policy aimed at targeting civilians in Gaza, with the broader goal of carrying out genocide and ethnic cleansing,” the statement asserted.
The Israeli military resumed large-scale operations on March 18, ending a ceasefire and prisoner exchange that had been in place since January 19.
Since October, more than 52,200 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, with the majority being women and children.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
