Israel’s Death Toll in Gaza Tragedy Rises to 800 as Victims Are Identified
The death toll in Israel continues to rise as efforts are being made to identify the victims of the tragic events that unfolded in Gaza. Israel has reported that around 1,500 terrorists were killed by security forces in response to the attack, leading to thousands of corpses that authorities are working to process.
Over the past month, authorities have been working tirelessly to identify the victims who fell prey to Hamas’s assault in southern Israel. Thousands of terrorists breached the border fence, launching attacks on families in their homes, on the streets, and even at a rave. Some victims suffered unimaginable acts of torture, rape, burning, and mutilation, with many of these heinous acts captured on video by the attackers. In addition, hundreds of soldiers stationed near the border were also killed in the attack.
The death toll is expected to continue fluctuating as more information emerges. It is uncertain whether some of the over 240 people abducted to the Strip are still alive. Moreover, reports have surfaced about individuals who were initially thought to be kidnapped but were later confirmed to have died through forensic and other evidence.
This week, archaeologists involved in the victim identification efforts discovered the remains of at least 10 people in houses burned during the brutal onslaught. The identification process is taking place at the Military Rabbinate’s main base in Ramle, where the bodies of the victims are slowly and painstakingly being processed and identified through various technological means.
According to the most recent figures released by the military, 318 service members were killed during the attack itself, with an additional 37 killed since the IDF launched its ground offensive in Gaza. Police have reported another 59 casualties. These figures include both armed fighters who confronted the terrorists directly and unarmed service members in non-combat roles who were tragically killed, sometimes even in their beds.
Based on current estimates, the civilian death toll stands at around 800. Meanwhile, the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza claims that over 11,000 people have been killed, without specifying whether they were civilians or combatants. However, these figures cannot be independently verified and are believed to include those mistakenly killed by terror operatives amidst the fighting.
Israel maintains that it makes every effort to avoid harming civilians but asserts that it becomes unavoidable when confronting a terror organization that operates within the civilian population, using hospitals, residential areas, and other civilian cover for their operations and attacks.
In response to the attack, Israel declared war against Gaza Strip terror organizations and initiated an unprecedented air and ground campaign to eliminate Hamas. The conflict has resulted in a devastating loss of life, with both sides claiming significant casualties.
As the identification process continues and the death toll rises, Israel and the international community face the challenging task of seeking justice for the victims while grappling with the ongoing complexities of the conflict.
