Death toll in Gaza exceeds 18,000

O The latest report from the ministry, controlled by Hamas, puts the death toll at 18,007, 70% of them women and children, and at least 49,229 injured.

In the report, the ministry once again warned of the dramatic situation of the health system in Gaza, with almost 300 deaths among medical personnel, more than 300 injured and a bed occupancy of 276%, of which 233 in intensive care.

In this extreme situation, in addition to the victims of the war, healthcare in Gaza has to face the increase in diseases, with more than 325 people affected by infections, among other diseases, such as respiratory diseases.

“Health professionals do what they can in the face of a lack of medicine, a shortage of water and fuel or a lack of security”, the report states.

More than 50 health centers have stopped functioning since the beginning of the offensive, specifically 20 hospitals and 46 health centers, in addition to more than 100 ambulances having been out of service, due to attacks or lack of fuel.

The growing pressure on health centers in areas where thousands of displaced people arrive, especially in the south of the Strip, the lack of medical personnel and the difficulties faced by humanitarian organizations in supporting Gaza’s health system are aggravating the situation, according to the ministry.

For its part, the Israeli army increased the number of deaths in its ranks to 430 since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, including 101 since the offensive in the Strip began on the 27th of that month.

The number of wounded reached 1,593, 559 since the start of the offensive, according to Israeli forces.

The Islamic group’s attack caused almost 1,200 deaths and around 240 people were kidnapped and taken to the Gaza Strip.

There are almost 1.9 million internally displaced people in Gaza, around 80% of its population of around 2.3 million inhabitants, with a serious humanitarian crisis.

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