News Center — The Gaza Strip is witnessing an unprecedented escalation in the repercussions of the ongoing war, as the scale of destruction expands and the humanitarian situation deteriorates with continued military operations. Civilian and health institutions are facing near-total collapse due to a shortage of basic supplies.

Medical sources in the Gaza Strip reported yesterday, Thursday, March 26, that the death toll from the ongoing war on the Strip, which began on October 7, 2023, has risen to 72,267 killed and 171,976 injured, as military operations continue and the humanitarian situation worsens.

The sources said that hospitals in the Strip recorded two deaths and 17 injuries in the past hours, despite the limited capacity of health facilities operating under extremely difficult conditions due to severe shortages of medical equipment and fuel.

They added that the total number of deaths since the ceasefire began last October has reached 691, while the number of injuries during the same period rose to 1,876. Rescue teams have also managed to retrieve 756 bodies from under the rubble, despite the significant risks they face in the field.

The sources confirmed that an unknown number of victims remain under the rubble and on the roads, as ambulance and civil defense crews are unable to reach them due to the ongoing bombardment, the complexities of the field situation, and a lack of logistical capabilities and necessary equipment for search and rescue operations.

This escalation in casualty numbers comes as Gaza's health sector faces unprecedented challenges, amid warnings that the humanitarian catastrophe is worsening with the continued deterioration of basic services, the growing number of missing persons, and the difficulty of providing medical care to the injured.

The Director General of the Government Media Office in Gaza reported that the number of housing units completely destroyed by Israeli forces, in addition to those rendered uninhabitable, has reached approximately 410,000 units, of which 335,000 housing units were completely destroyed by Israeli forces.

He pointed out that Israeli forces partially destroyed 100,000 housing units that remain habitable, adding that more than 350,000 Palestinian families are in need of shelter, noting that over 132,000 tents out of a total of 135,000 have completely worn out and are unfit for habitation.

He explained that more than 2 million civilians have been displaced due to the forced displacement policy pursued by Israeli forces, confirming that approximately 303 shelter and forced displacement centers were directly targeted by Israeli forces with bombardment.

Regarding the condition of partially destroyed homes in the Strip and the danger they pose to the lives of citizens, the Deputy Head of the Civil Defense Authority in Gaza stated that tens of thousands of homes targeted by Israeli forces are standing only in appearance, but are actually on the verge of collapse and pose a real danger to the lives of citizens. In fact, numerous incidents have occurred where buildings collapsed, resulting in the deaths and injuries of many people.