Israel’s war on Gaza surpasses that of any other major conflict in the 21st century
Britain-based charity Oxfam revealed that the daily death toll of Palestinians in Israel’s war on Gaza has exceeded that of any other major conflict in the 21st century. Survivors in Gaza face multiple risks, including hunger, diseases, cold weather, and ongoing Israeli bombardments. Oxfam’s statement emphasized that Israel’s military is killing Palestinians at an alarming rate, averaging 250 people per day.
Oxfam provided a comparison of average deaths per day in other conflicts since the turn of the century, highlighting the severity of the situation in Gaza. The statistics revealed that the daily death toll in Gaza far surpasses the figures in conflicts such as Syria, Sudan, Iraq, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Yemen.
The crisis in Gaza is further intensified by Israel’s restrictions on aid entry into the region, resulting in only 10 percent of the necessary weekly food aid reaching the population. This dire situation significantly increases the risk of starvation for those who survive the relentless bombardment.
Human Rights Watch (HRW) also released its World Report 2024, stating that civilians in Gaza have been subject to unprecedented targeted attacks, abuse, and killings in the past year. The report highlighted the alarming figures provided by Gaza’s Ministry of Health, which stated that 23,469 Palestinians have been killed and 59,604 injured due to Israeli strikes on Gaza since October 7. In the most recent 24-hour period, Israeli forces carried out 10 mass killings, leading to 112 deaths and 194 injuries. Shockingly, around 7,000 people are missing and presumed dead under the rubble.
HRW Director Omar Shakir condemned the heinous crimes committed by Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups. Shakir called for action from countries that supply weapons, urging them to take a stand against these atrocities and put an end to the suffering of civilians.
In a significant development, South Africa has accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and presented its case before the International Court of Justice in The Hague. However, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed the accusations as hypocrisy and lies.
HRW’s report highlighted that Israel’s war on Gaza has involved acts of collective punishment that constitute war crimes, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare. The report also shed light on the increasing incidents of settler violence against Palestinians and their property in the occupied West Bank, reaching the highest daily average since 2006.
Experts who analyze damage during wartime compared the war in Gaza to some of the deadliest and most destructive conflicts in recent history. According to their findings, the Gaza offensive has resulted in more civilian deaths than the US-led coalition’s three-year campaign against ISIL. The destruction caused by the offensive exceeds that of the razing of Syria’s Aleppo, Ukraine’s Mariupol, or even the Allied bombing of Germany during World War II.
Satellite data collected by research groups reveal that Israel’s offensive has likely damaged or destroyed over two-thirds of structures in Northern Gaza and a quarter of buildings in the Southern area of Khan Younis. This includes tens of thousands of homes, as well as schools, hospitals, mosques, and stores. UN monitors report that around 70 percent of school buildings in Gaza have suffered damage.
The Gaza Strip, when viewed from space, has undergone a dramatic transformation due to the extensive destruction caused by the ongoing conflict. Corey Scher, a member of the research team, explained that Gaza’s appearance has changed significantly in terms of color and texture.
As the conflict continues, concerns mount about the catastrophic situation in Gaza. The international community is urged to take immediate action to stop the violence and address the urgent humanitarian needs of the Palestinian population.
