The war in Gaza has entered its third year, becoming Israel's longest conflict since 1948. The offensive has killed over 67,000 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including at least 20,000 children. Nearly 170,000 have been wounded, with casualties amounting to roughly 10% of Gaza's pre-war population of 2.3 million.
Entire families have been wiped out in single airstrikes, often leaving only a child alive. Many more dead are believed uncounted under rubble, while thousands have disappeared—lost, incinerated, or held in secret detention by Israel. The true toll may be higher due to untreated illnesses, malnutrition, and other conflict-related causes.
Israel imposed a total blockade from March to May 2025, citing Hamas theft of aid, leading to famine declared in parts of Gaza in August. The devastation has led to accusations of genocide, which Israel denies. In September, UN experts said the death toll and destruction met genocide criteria, a claim Israel challenged.
The war, triggered by a Hamas raid on 7 October 2023 that killed about 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages, has displaced almost all of Gaza's population, often multiple times. Entire cities have been reduced to rubble, with 78% of 250,000 buildings damaged or destroyed, generating 61 million tonnes of debris, 15% potentially contaminated with asbestos or heavy metals.
Over 80% of Gaza's territory is under evacuation orders or combat zones. Aid agencies estimate 2.1 million people—95% of the population—have been displaced, living in tent cities or overcrowded shelters. “This is a traumatic, violent process, often repeated again and again,” said James Elder of Unicef.
