Gaza City: Amid relentless Israeli bombardment and a worsening humanitarian crisis, Hamas has declared the Gaza Strip a “disaster zone,” warning that the catastrophe threatens the lives of its 2.4 million residents. The announcement comes as food, water, and medical supplies dwindle, and large-scale destruction continues.
In a statement, the Hamas-run media office reported that over 61,709 people have lost their lives, including 47,487 confirmed fatalities in hospitals, while another 14,222 remain missing under rubble. The number of injured has climbed to 111,588.
The conflict has displaced more than 2 million Palestinians, forcing many to flee multiple times, according to Xinhua News Agency. The war has also devastated Gaza’s infrastructure, with 450,000 housing units damaged, of which 170,000 have been completely destroyed. Additionally, 34 hospitals and 80 healthcare centers have been rendered non-operational, severely crippling the region’s healthcare system.
Economic losses have exceeded $50 billion, affecting the industrial, commercial, agricultural, healthcare, education, and communications sectors. The ongoing Israeli blockade has further exacerbated the crisis, creating severe shortages of essential supplies, leaving hundreds of thousands at risk.
Hamas asked the United Nations and international organizations to intervene immediately by delivering humanitarian aid and ensuring the protection of civilians in accordance with international law. It has also accused Israel of committing systematic war crimes with the support of the United States, calling for accountability from the global community.
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of Palestinians have begun returning to their homes in Gaza City and the northern region following an agreement allowing displaced residents to move back after 15 months of forced displacement.
