The Human Toll: The Ongoing Israel-Hamas Conflict and the Devastating Impact on Innocent Lives
In the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, both sides have faced devastating consequences Countless lives have been lost, with children comprising nearly half of the casualties The attacks have also targeted healthcare facilities, leaving civilians in dire need Furthermore, journalists are unable to find safe spaces to report on the unfolding events
It has been a month since Hamas carried out an unexpected and brutal attack on Israel. Israeli officials report that over 1,400 Israelis were killed in the assault, with more than 240 being taken hostage. The Ministry of Health in Ramallah states that the military campaign launched by Israel in response has resulted in the deaths of over 10,000 Palestinians.
The Palestinian authorities do not differentiate between combatants and civilians, leading to a significant number of vulnerable groups, including children, health workers, and journalists, being included in the appalling and continually rising death count.
The conflict initially erupted on October 7th, when Hamas militants carried out a deadly surprise attack on Israel's border. This attack has been described as the most devastating Jewish massacre since the Holocaust. In retaliation, Israel launched air and land strikes on the Gaza Strip. According to a spokesperson from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, these strikes have resulted in a staggering death toll of 10,022 individuals in the besieged enclave. However, CNN is unable to independently verify these numbers. It is important to note that the number of Palestinian casualties in Gaza over the past month far exceeds the total casualties from conflicts with Israel over the past 15 years.
Children are nearly half of all casualties
Gaza boasts one of the most youthful populations globally, with an impressive 47% below the age of 18, while distressingly, the health ministry has grimly confirmed that as of November 6, a staggering 4,104 children have tragically lost their lives. Furthermore, according to estimates provided by UN officials as of November 5, there are approximately 1,270 missing reports concerning children who may be entangled beneath the ruins.
According to UN data, if the health ministry numbers are accurate, the number of children killed since the conflict started has surpassed the annual number of children killed in armed conflicts worldwide over the past four years. In Ukraine, 477 children lost their lives in 2022, and as of October 8, 83 children have died this year, as reported by the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
In the Gaza Strip, a densely populated area with over 2 million inhabitants, approximately 1.5 million individuals, accounting for around two-thirds of the population, have been displaced from their homes due to airstrikes, as reported by the UN.
On October 13, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) instructed residents in the northern region of the Gaza Strip to relocate to the southern areas. The influx of displaced individuals has caused overwhelming strain on hospitals, shelters, schools, and refugee camps. A severe scarcity of electricity, fuel, food, and clean water has led to a humanitarian emergency, as cautioned by UN officials.
On October 31, a devastating Israeli airstrike took place in Gaza's largest refugee camp, Jabalya, aimed at targeting Hamas commanders and infrastructure. The impact of the attack caused immense destruction and resulted in multiple casualties. The camp in northern Gaza suffered further destruction as it was bombarded for the second time the following day, leading to the tragic deaths of at least 80 people, as reported by the director of Gazas Indonesian hospital. The IDF confirmed that the initial airstrike had eliminated several Hamas members, including Ibrahim Biari, who was identified as one of the commanders responsible for the October 7 attack on Israel. Contrary to the IDF's claim, Hamas denied the presence of one of its leaders during the airstrike.
Attacks on health care
Examples of attacks on health care can involve incidents like when an Israeli airstrike targeted an ambulance outside Gaza's Al-Shifa hospital, the largest health facility in the area. Israel claims it was aimed at a Hamas group. As reported by the Hamas-run authorities in Gaza, this incident resulted in the death of at least 15 people and left 50 wounded.
The World Health Organization monitors health care attacks, which can also encompass actions like blocking access to care, confiscating health care equipment, and various forms of violence that impact the provision of health services.
A significant number of casualties occurred at the Al-Ahli Hospital in Gaza due to a fatal explosion. The cause of the blast and the exact casualty figures are in dispute. The Gaza health ministry reported 471 deaths, while an initial US intelligence assessment estimated the number of fatalities to be between 100 and 300. Palestinian officials and certain Arab leaders attributed the incident to an Israeli airstrike, while Israel claimed it was the result of a misfired rocket from the Islamic Jihad militant group, a rival to Hamas. An investigative report by CNN suggested that the blast was likely caused by a rocket fired from within Gaza.
In Ukraine, during the months of March and April 2022, shortly after Russia initiated its attack on the country, there were approximately 600 attacks on healthcare facilities according to data from the World Health Organization (WHO). In comparison, occupied Palestinian territory has recorded over 200 similar attacks since October 7, although the number of casualties has been significantly higher.
The number of health workers killed in Ramallah by the Palestinian Ministry of Health is 192, with 113 health-care facilities being hit. As of November 6, UN officials have reported that 14 hospitals and 51 primary health-care centers are currently unavailable due to either damage caused by airstrikes or a shortage of fuel.
There is absolutely no safe space for journalists
Since October 7, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has recorded 37 fatalities of journalists and media personnel in the occupied Palestinian territory. This marks the most lethal period for journalists reporting on conflicts since CPJ first started documenting these incidents in 1992. Arlene Getz, CPJ's editorial director, emphasized the absence of any comparable incidents in the past.
The deadliest incident in history for professional journalists occurred on November 23, 2009, in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao, Philippines. A total of 58 individuals lost their lives, including 32 journalists and media personnel, as reported by the CPJ.
According to Getz, there seems to be a complete absence of safe areas. Reporting from refugee camps, which were once considered secure, is now perilous.
CPJ is documenting the fatalities of journalists and media workers in the region that are connected to their profession, using the same method as it did for the killings of journalists in Ukraine from 2022. In contrast, there were 13 journalist deaths reported in Ukraine in that year.
According to Getz, CPJ occasionally faces challenges in confirming these deaths, as they often depend on verification from family members.
"Family members are often our primary sources for corroborating information and confirming the circumstances and deaths," Getz explained. "When families are tragically killed alongside journalists in attacks, it becomes increasingly difficult to find individuals who can provide insight on these incidents."
According to the latest data from the CPJ, out of the casualties in Gaza, 32 were Palestinian, four were Israeli, and one was Lebanese. In addition, eight journalists were reported injured, while 11 were either missing or detained.
