INVC NEWS
Middle East – : Over 55,000 people have died in Gaza during nearly 20 months of brutal conflict between Israel and Hamas. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that more than half of the victims are women and children. At the same time, Israel confirmed the recovery of two hostage bodies, including Yair Yaakov, abducted during the October 7 Hamas attack.
The war has devastated large parts of Gaza. Hospitals say at least 55,104 people are dead and more than 127,000 injured. Many more are feared trapped under debris. Though Israel claims its strikes target Hamas militants, civilians continue to bear the brunt due to Hamas operating from residential zones, according to Israeli officials.
One of the hostages recovered was identified as Yair Yaakov. His body was taken to Gaza after being killed in Hamas’ October attack. The second hostage remains unidentified. Israel’s defense minister called the retrieval a complex military operation but gave few details.
Destruction across Gaza has left nearly 90% of residents homeless. The southern city of Rafah is almost empty and turned into a military buffer zone. Food and medical aid are severely disrupted due to Israeli restrictions, lawlessness, and theft, say the UN and relief groups. Israel accuses Hamas of stealing supplies, but aid workers deny it.
The rising death toll, massive displacement, and growing hunger have turned Gaza into one of the world’s worst humanitarian disasters.
