News Center _ Residents in the Gaza Strip are facing a severe deterioration in humanitarian cinditions and increasing difficulties in accessing basic services, amid ongoing military operatios and UN warnings of a widening crisis and rising risks to civilians.

The death toll from the war in the Gaza Strip has risen to 72,247 since the start of the Israeli attacks in October 2023, according to an announcement by the Ministry of Health on Monday evening, March 16. The ministry indicated that Israeli forces continue to shell various areas of the Strip despite the ceasefire agreement being in effect.

Hospitals received the bodies of eight people killed and 17 injured over the past 24 hours, while rescue teams continue searching for missing persons under the rubble of buildings hit by the bombardment.

Since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10, 2025, the number of deaths has reached 671, with 1,779 injured, in addition to the recovery of 756 bodies from beneath the rubble.

According to official statistics, the total number of injured since the beginning of the war has risen to 171,878, while thousands of bodies remain buried under debris across different areas of the Strip, amid major challenges facing rescue and relief teams in reaching the victims.

Serious Deterioration of the Situation

The Secretary-General of the United Nations condemned the killing of members of a Palestinian family, including children, by Israeli security forces in the West Bank, stressing that Israel must comply with international law, exercise maximum restraint, and refrain from using lethal force except when strictly necessary to protect lives.

A UN spokesperson stated that this incident comes amid a serious deterioration in the security situation in the West Bank, noting that the near-daily attacks carried out by Israeli settlers have become more intense and brutal, resulting in civilian deaths and the destruction of public and private property, and in some cases the displacement of entire communities. He described this violence as unacceptable and called for it to stop immediately.

The UN official urged Israel to take concrete steps to halt this escalation, emphasizing that the Israeli authorities bear responsibility for protecting the Palestinian population, ensuring credible investigations, and holding those responsible for these violations accountable.

Humanitarian Situation in Gaza

The World Food Programme and UN agencies have warned of worsening living conditions in Gaza. Reports indicate that more than half of families are now forced to burn waste to cook food, causing serious health and environmental consequences in densely populated areas. This forced behavior reflects the severe shortage of fuel and basic cooking resources.

The UN spokesperson stressed the importance of allowing regular entry of cooking gas into the Strip, whether through humanitarian aid or commercial supplies, as it is essential for improving food security and easing the daily burden on residents.

On the health front, the UN official explained that only two out of five health centers are currently operational, often at partial capacity, despite ongoing UN efforts to restore medical facilities. This situation reflects the scale of challenges facing the healthcare system amid continued restrictions and resource shortages.