Gaza death toll nears 56,000 as Israeli attacks see no end

Israeli attacks on Gaza have brought the death toll to 55,998 since October 7th, 2023, Middle East Eye reported on June 23rd.

Medical sources stated that most of the victims are women and children, while the number of wounded people has reached 131,559. Many remain trapped under rubble in areas rescue teams cannot reach.

In a 24-hour period, 39 people were killed, including a body recovered from debris, and 317 others suffered wounds and were taken to hospitals. Since March 18th, Israeli operations have killed 5,685 and wounded 19,518.

Following the Gaza crisis, the United Nations has warned of a record surge in violence against children in areas of conflict, Middle East Eye reported on June 20th. The UN recorded over 8,500 serious violations against Palestinian children last year, with over 4,800 of those cases happening in Gaza alone.

Israeli forces were responsible for most incidents. The UN verified the deaths of 1,259 children, while 4,470 more cases remain under review. Israeli forces are still on the UN’s “list of shame” due to killings, the aid blockade, and other violations. Violence has also intensified in the occupied West Bank.

Additionally, according to a report by the UN human rights office on June 18th, over 400 Palestinians were killed in a matter of weeks while attempting to access humanitarian aid in Gaza.

The UN urged the Israeli military to stop using lethal force near aid convoys and food sites. It highlighted repeated shootings and shelling of civilians, warning these actions could amount to war crimes. The World Food Programme also called for immediate protection of civilians, stressing that the scale of aid must increase urgently to prevent further deaths and restore public trust.

Middle East Eye, United Nations