The Israel-Hamas conflict, sparked by the deadly Hamas attack on October 7, has left an unimaginable trail of destruction and death. Over the past year, Israel's retaliatory offensive in Gaza has claimed nearly 40 thousand lives and caused widespread devastation across the densely populated enclave. Have a look at the staggering human and material costs of the war, based on data from the Israeli government, Gaza’s Health Ministry, and UN agencies.
The October 7 Attack
On the fateful day of October 7th 2023, Hamas launched a large-scale attack on Israel, leading to significant casualties and a hostage crisis.
Number of people killed in Israel: Around 1,200
Hostages taken into Gaza: 251
Living hostages in Gaza: 66, including 2 held before October 7
Captives believed dead in Gaza: 35, including 2 from before October 7
Simplified Timeline of Key Events
Hamas Launches Attack: Hamas initiated a surprise assault on Israel, involving rocket attacks and ground raids.
Thousands of Rockets Fired: Over 2,000 rockets were launched from Gaza, hitting various Israeli cities and causing widespread destruction and casualties.
Militant Infiltration: Hamas fighters crossed into Israel, targeting towns and communities near the Gaza border, attacking civilians.
Israel Declares State of War: Prime Minister Netanyahu declared a state of war, leading to large-scale military mobilization in response to the attack. The minister of defense issued a declaration of a special home front situation in the Gaza border region. At 6:00 p.m. that day, the minister for national security conveyed to the Israel police commissioner that he had declared a civil emergency event throughout the State of Israel, with the exception of the area within a radius of 80 kilometers (about 49.7 miles) from the Gaza Strip, in which a special home front situation had already been declared. At 8:00 p.m
Israeli Airstrikes: Israel launched intense airstrikes on Hamas targets in Gaza, including military sites and weapons storage facilities.
High Casualty Count in Gaza: In Gaza, more than 41,000 people have been killed and 96,000 people have been wounded since Israel’s offensive began, the majority being civilians, according to local health authorities.
International Concerns: World leaders condemned the violence, urging both sides to show restraint, while expressing worry over the growing humanitarian crisis.