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Decrease in Gaza’s Population Amid Ongoing Conflict
JERUSALEM (Reuters) – The ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine has led to a significant reduction in the Gaza Strip’s population, which has decreased by approximately 6% over the course of nearly 15 months of warfare. The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) reports that around 100,000 Palestinians have fled the region, while over 55,000 are believed to have lost their lives.
The PCBS notes that around 45,500 casualties include a substantial number of women and children, indicating that the humanitarian toll is dire. In addition, approximately 11,000 individuals remain missing, per data from the Palestinian Health Ministry.
Overall, Gaza’s population has dropped by an estimated 160,000, resulting in a current estimate of 2.1 million residents. The bureau highlights that children represent more than 47% of the population, with over one million individuals aged 18 and under.
In a statement regarding the conflict, the PCBS described the situation as one of “brutal aggression” perpetrated by Israel, affecting not only human lives but also infrastructure and housing. The bureau indicated that entire families have been erased from civil records, leading to catastrophic losses both human and material in nature.
In response to the PCBS findings, Israel’s foreign ministry has labeled the data as “fabricated, inflated, and manipulated,” asserting that such narratives are aimed at disparaging Israel’s actions.
The severity of the situation has prompted accusations against Israel, with some human rights advocates and organizations describing the military actions as genocidal in scale due to the extensive death toll and destruction observed in Gaza.
According to rulings from the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is the premier legal authority within the United Nations, Israel has an obligation to prevent genocidal acts against Palestinians. Additionally, Pope Francis has remarked that the international community should investigate whether Israel’s military operations in Gaza could be classified as genocide.
However, Israel has steadfastly denied such accusations, maintaining that its operations comply with international law and serve as a means of self-defense in light of the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which resulted in 1,200 Israeli fatalities and initiated the ongoing conflict.
Further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis, the PCBS reported that about 22% of Gaza’s residents currently endure catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity, as per the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a global standard for measuring food insecurity. This alarming statistic includes roughly 3,500 children who are at severe risk of malnutrition and potential death due to inadequate access to food.
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