The population of Gaza has decreased by 6 percent since the onset of the devastating war with Israel 15 months ago, according to a report by Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS). This decline, attributed to deaths, missing persons, and emigration, highlights the catastrophic toll of the prolonged conflict on the enclave.
The PCBS report, based on data from the Palestinian Health Ministry, revealed that over 45,500 Palestinians have been killed, more than half of them women and children. Also, 11,000 individuals remain unaccounted for, likely buried under rubble from relentless airstrikes. In total, Gaza’s population has diminished by approximately 160,000, with the current figure standing at 2.1 million. Children constitute 47 percent of the population, underscoring the war’s devastating impact on the young.
The bureau stated, “Israel has waged a brutal aggression against Gaza, targeting all aspects of life – human, structural, and essential infrastructure. Entire families have been erased from civil registries. The human and material losses are catastrophic.”
Humanitarian concerns in Gaza are escalating, with the PCBS reporting that 22 percent of the population faces catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity. Among those affected are 3,500 children at immediate risk of death due to malnutrition and food shortages. The enclave’s already fragile infrastructure has been pushed to the brink, exacerbating the suffering of its residents.
Israel has rejected these allegations.
International scrutiny has intensified, with Israel facing accusations of genocide due to the scale of death and destruction in Gaza. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled earlier that Israel must take measures to prevent acts of genocide against Palestinians. Similarly, Pope Francis has called for an inquiry into whether Israel’s actions in Gaza constitute genocide.
