Gaza Health: Death toll rises to 73,333 since the start of the aggression

The Palestinian Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced today, Tuesday, an increase in the total number of victims of the ongoing Israeli aggression since October 7, 2023. According to the daily statistical report, hospitals received the bodies of 4 martyrs, in addition to 14 injuries of varying severity, during the past twenty-four hours, as a result of the continuous attacks on various areas of the Strip.

Medical sources explained that the four martyrs were distributed among three who died in direct field targeting, while the fourth passed away due to previous injuries he was receiving treatment for in one of the hospitals. These figures come amidst complex field conditions imposed by aerial targeting, the latest of which was the bombing of a residential building in the Sabra neighborhood, which led to new casualties.

Regarding cumulative statistics, the Ministry confirmed that the number of officially documented martyrs since the beginning of the war has jumped to 73,333 martyrs, while the number of injured has risen to 174,023 people. These numbers include the wounded who received medical care in government hospitals and field facilities that are still operating despite immense challenges and a lack of resources.

The report touched upon the period following the ceasefire agreement on October 11, during which the Ministry recorded the martyrdom of 1,207 citizens since that date. The registered injuries during the same period reached 3,914 injuries, in addition to rescue teams carrying out 803 recovery operations for victims who were trapped under the rubble of destroyed buildings.

The Ministry stressed that the announced figures do not include all victims, as hundreds are still missing under the rubble and on the roads of border areas that are difficult to access. It indicated that civil defense and ambulance crews face a significant deficit in recovery operations due to the continued violations of the truce and the lack of heavy equipment needed to deal with tons of rubble.

Health authorities reiterated their appeal to the international community for the necessity of opening safe passages to enable medical and rescue personnel to perform their humanitarian duties. They affirmed that the continued prevention of access to affected areas prevents the documentation of a large number of martyrs and deprives families of burying the bodies of their loved ones, which exacerbates the humanitarian and health crisis in the Strip.

A number of victims are still under the rubble and on the sides of the roads, while ambulance and civil defense crews are unable to reach them.