****

In the densely packed Gaza Strip, the true scale of humanitarian suffering due to relentless Israeli attacks over the past year is stark and alarming. Although numbers alone can barely encapsulate the depth of civilian anguish, they still offer a harrowing glimpse into the vast destruction and trauma endured by the people of Gaza.

On the night of October 7, 2023, a devastating Israeli airstrike on a home in Abasan al-Kabira, east of Khan Younis, claimed the lives of 18 family members—including five children and four women—and left 11-year-old Tala Abu Daqqa injured. Around 150 residents in the area were also injured. Since this incident, attacks have persisted, resulting in mass casualties and widespread displacement.

According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, Israeli attacks over the past year have killed nearly 42,000 Palestinians and injured over 96,000. These statistics may, however, underestimate the true scale of the crisis. A group of 99 American health workers advocated in a letter for an arms embargo on Israel, estimating the death toll to be at least three times higher, with projections as high as 118,908. Further indirect deaths from disease outbreaks, lack of medical care, and shortages of essential supplies could push this number up to 186,000 or more.

Gaza's healthcare system has been severely disrupted, with attacks on 492 healthcare facilities resulting in nearly 750 deaths. Out of 36 hospitals, only 17 are partially functional, and 19 are completely out of service. As a result, critical patients are frequently unable to get the medical evacuations they require.

The United States has fortified its support for Israel amidst the ongoing conflict, with a recent $8.7 billion aid package and over $20 billion in arms sales approved by the Biden administration. These include advanced weaponry like F-15 fighter aircraft and various munitions, most of which are funded by U.S. military aid. Despite this support, concerns have been raised regarding violations of international law and the humanitarian impact on Palestinian civilians.

The humanitarian crisis extends beyond immediate casualties. Reports indicate that nearly 228,000 housing units in Gaza have been damaged, contributing to the displacement of 1.9 million people. This demographic upheaval is compounded by acute food insecurity affecting 2.1 million people—virtually the entire Gazan population—with many facing emergency or famine levels of deprivation.

Agriculture and fishing, once vital sources of sustenance and income, have been devastated. Satellite imagery shows that 68 percent of permanent crop fields have been heavily damaged. Livestock populations have drastically reduced, and the fishing industry has been crippled with significant losses in both infrastructure and personnel.

As the rubble mounts—estimated at 84 billion pounds—and the need for reconstruction grows ever more urgent, experts predict the staggering cost to rehabilitate Gaza could exceed $80 billion. This colossal figure underscores not only the physical reconstruction but also the daunting task of addressing the deep psychological scars on the population.

The numbers are overwhelming, yet they remain insufficient to fully convey the extent of human suffering that has unfolded over the past year in Gaza. The relentless conflict has brought unprecedented devastation, leaving the people of Gaza in a state of perpetual crisis.