The harvest of the Gaza war: more than 74 thousand dead in 3 years

Listen to the article. The audio text is automated, generated by an automated system

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates announced that more than 74,000 Palestinians have been killed since the outbreak of war in the Gaza Strip, including 70% of women and children, while the number of wounded reached about 175,000, according to a tally reported by the ministry in a statement issued Thursday.

The statement came on the occasion of the three-year anniversary of the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023, amid its continuing humanitarian and security repercussions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry said that the number of casualties reflects the size of the human losses incurred by the Palestinians during the past three years, noting that deaths continue to occur despite reaching ceasefire arrangements.

According to the ministry, about 1,500 Palestinians were killed during the ceasefire period alone, in light of what it described as continued killing and destruction operations and restrictions imposed on the entry of humanitarian aid.

She also pointed out the continued closure of the crossings, which she said exacerbates the humanitarian conditions in the Strip, as residents suffer from the repercussions of the war and the widespread destruction of the infrastructure.

The Palestinian Foreign Ministry accused Israel of using starvation, sexual violence, and rape as weapons of war, in addition to targeting civilian facilities, including hospitals, schools, shelters for displaced persons, and tents housing displaced families.

These accusations come in the context of ongoing Palestinian demands to hold accountable those responsible for the violations that the ministry says were committed during the war.

In the West Bank, the Palestinian Foreign Ministry said that more than 1,200 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war on Gaza, including 210 children.

She added that the West Bank witnessed during the same period the continuation of arrests, house demolitions, and land seizures, in addition to the expansion of settlements and the establishment of barriers that affect the movement of Palestinians.

These numbers come in light of the escalation of tensions in the West Bank since October 2023, in parallel with the war in the Gaza Strip.

The repercussions of the war, according to the statement, were not limited to direct human losses, but also included the deterioration of living and humanitarian conditions and damage to civilian facilities.

The toll announced by the Palestinian Foreign Ministry highlights the continuing humanitarian repercussions of the war three years after its outbreak, amid Palestinian demands to stop violations and ensure the arrival of aid and the protection of civilians.