Mounting Death Toll in Gaza: Hamas Health Ministry Reports Over 10,000 Casualties Amid Growing Condemnation of Israeli Campaign

According to the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave, over 10,000 individuals have lost their lives in Gaza since the initiation of Israel's military campaign almost a month ago. On Monday, it was reported that Israel commenced war against Hamas following a violent assault carried out by the Islamist extremist organization on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,400 people in Israel and the abduction of over 240 individuals. In response, Israel launched an extensive airstrike and ground assault on Gaza, with the objective of eradicating the militant group.

According to spokesperson Ashraf Al Qudra, the ministry reported that Israeli strikes have resulted in the death of 10,022 Palestinians in the enclave, including 4,104 children, 2,641 women, and 611 elderly individuals. These figures indicate that approximately 75% of the fatalities are from vulnerable demographics. The ministry further stated that there have been 25,408 reported injuries. It is not possible to determine the number of combatants included in the overall total. CNN is unable to independently verify the data released by the ministry in Gaza due to the area's isolation imposed by Israel and Egypt.

Over the past month, the number of Palestinian casualties in Gaza has far surpassed the total from conflicts with Israel over the past 15 years.

According to CNN's calculations using the latest data from the Gazan health ministry, an alarming rate of one child is losing their life every 10 minutes due to the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.

Israel's bombardment campaign in the densely populated strip is causing a significant increase in the death toll, leading to international condemnation. The United Nations Human Rights Office expressed concerns over the attacks on Gaza's largest refugee camp last week, suggesting that they may potentially be classified as war crimes due to the extensive number of casualties and the level of destruction.

Israel has stated that they are focusing their operations on Hamas members in Gaza, asserting that Hamas intentionally places its assets in civilian areas and employs civilians as human shields. This defense has also been echoed by officials from the United States.

CNN analysis of satellite imagery, and videos released by the Israel Defense Forces, CNN reporting

Israeli ground forces closing in on Gaza City, satellite imagery and videos show

Last month, international charity Save the Children reported that the number of children killed in the enclave during Israel's campaign exceeded the annual number of children killed in armed conflicts worldwide for the past four years. The UN has referred to Gaza as a "graveyard" for children.

Throughout the war, the United States has consistently supported Israel's campaign, citing its right to self-defense. On October 18, it vetoed a UN Security Council resolution that called for humanitarian pauses to deliver aid to Gaza. However, President Joe Biden recently expressed his support for a humanitarian pause to facilitate the release of additional hostages held in Gaza.

Washington has cautioned Israel that its support could diminish unless the violence in Gaza ceases. Israel's military campaign in Gaza has sparked global protests and raised concerns of intervention from Iran-backed militants in the area, who have already clashed with the Israeli military.

Israel, however, continues to demonstrate no intention of relenting, asserting that its actions in Gaza are simply growing. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), approximately 1.5 million residents of Gaza, within the 140-square-mile area, have already been forced to leave their homes. As of Friday, numerous individuals are seeking refuge in overcrowded schools and hospitals, struggling with limited access to essential resources such as food, water, and electricity.