Health Ministry: Over 44,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza since October 2023

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported a significant increase in casualties since Israeli military operations began in October 2023.

In an official statement, the Gaza Ministry of Health confirmed, "The number of fatalities caused by the Israeli army in Gaza has risen to 44,056, with an additional 104,268 individuals injured," Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

The report also noted the continuing violence, with 71 Palestinians reported killed and 176 more injured within the past 24 hours, as a result of Israeli airstrikes and artillery bombardments across the Gaza Strip.

The ongoing conflict has led to widespread devastation, with both civilian infrastructure and communities bearing the brunt of the violence.

Notably, the International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defence minister, and Hamas officials, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

This follows the devastating 13-month war between Israel and Hamas, which has resulted in over 44,000 deaths in Gaza. Netanyahu condemned the charges, calling them false and absurd, asserting that Israel’s actions in Gaza are justified.

The Gaza Health Ministry has reported significant casualties, with more than half being women and children, though the actual toll may be higher due to unaccounted bodies. On the Israeli side, military actions against Hamas have led to the deaths of over 17,000 militants, with heavy civilian losses resulting from Hezbollah attacks on Israel.

The conflict has caused mass displacement, with 90% of Gaza's population forced to flee, and the violence has spread into Lebanon, claiming over 3,500 lives and displacing more than 1 million people.

By Aghakazim Guliyev