Photo credit: www.cbc.ca
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to a significant population decline in Gaza, with the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) reporting a six percent drop since the war began nearly 15 months ago. Approximately 100,000 Palestinians have fled the region, while over 55,000 individuals are believed to be deceased since hostilities escalated.
According to the PCBS, around 45,500 Palestinians, including a substantial number of women and children, have lost their lives during the conflict, with an additional 11,000 reported missing. Consequently, the population of Gaza has decreased by about 160,000, leaving approximately 2.1 million residents in the enclave, with more than one million—47 percent—being minors, as noted by the bureau.
In response to these figures, Israel’s foreign ministry labeled the PCBS data as “fabricated, inflated, and manipulated” to tarnish Israel’s image. The PCBS has countered this, asserting that comprehensive aggression from Israel has severely impacted civilians, infrastructure, and communities, with entire families being erased from civil registries, leading to devastating human and material losses.
Accusations of Genocide
The extent of the devastation in Gaza has sparked serious allegations of genocide against Israel. The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the primary judicial body of the United Nations, issued a ruling in January urging Israel to take preventive measures against acts of genocide towards Palestinians. Furthermore, Pope Francis has indicated that the situation warrants global scrutiny to determine if Israel’s actions constitute genocide. A recent report by Amnesty International has also concluded that Israel’s military operations amount to genocidal actions.
Israel has consistently denied these genocide claims, asserting its compliance with international law and emphasizing its right to self-defense following the Hamas assault on October 7, 2023, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and escalated hostilities.
WATCH | Amnesty International accuses Israel of genocide in Gaza:
Amnesty International says Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
The targeting of hospitals in Gaza has raised significant alarm and condemnation. Israel has justified these incidents by claiming that Hamas utilizes medical facilities as operational bases. The United Nations Human Rights Office has indicated that such actions have nearly collapsed Gaza’s healthcare system.
The conflict has resulted in a staggering humanitarian crisis, with around 90 percent of Gaza’s population experiencing internal displacement, often multiple times due to fluctuating evacuation directives. Presently, the PCBS reports that nearly 22 percent of the enclave’s population endures catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity, as per the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification criteria, affecting approximately 3,500 children who face life-threatening malnutrition.
Source
www.cbc.ca