In light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis stemming from the recent conflict between Israel and Hamas, the situation in the Gaza Strip has reached a catastrophic level. Since hostilities began in October 2023, the region has been left in ruins, with reports indicating that over 40,000 lives have been lost, and around 60% of buildings are damaged, alongside 68% of roads. This devastation has displaced countless individuals, who now face dire shortages of water, food, and essential health services, all within an environment plagued by disease.
Can you provide some insight into the current state of Gaza? Before the conflict, the population was approximately 2.4 million. Now, staggering statistics reveal that more than 40,000 people have died, over 90,000 are injured, and an astounding 90% of the population has been displaced. Residents are not only deprived of food, medical supplies, and clean drinking water, but they also contend with continuous evacuation orders from Israel, forcing them to flee repeatedly in search of safety.
With Israel’s blockade still effective, humanitarian aid is the only lifeline for many desperate communities, yet it remains woefully inadequate. A United Nations report from July indicated that at least 495,000 people in Gaza are facing severe food shortages, with many suffering from malnutrition.
The crisis regarding clean water is particularly pressing; the sanitation system is in disarray, and most residents rely on water trucks for their supply. UNICEF has pointed out the unsanitary living conditions contributing to outbreaks of diseases such as diarrhea and skin infections. Alarmingly, Gaza reported its first case of polio in 25 years in August due to an inability to vaccinate, alongside deteriorating hygiene conditions, as the virus primarily spreads through contaminated water.
Statistically, the impact of the conflict is staggering. Approximately 170,000 buildings have been reported damaged, which constitutes around 60% of all structures in Gaza. Out of 510 schools, around 85%—or 477—have been destroyed, leaving hundreds of thousands of students without education.
Moreover, critical infrastructure such as electricity supply, water pumping stations, and police departments in Gaza is non-operational, and the medical system is on the verge of collapse. Currently, only 16 out of 36 hospitals are functioning, confronting severe shortages of medical supplies.
While Israel’s military operations have successfully targeted several Hamas leaders and significantly weakened the group’s capabilities, Hamas itself has not been entirely dismantled. As Israel continues to grapple with establishing full control over Gaza, the conflict shows no signs of resolution.
According to Jonathan Hoffman, a researcher at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, the attacks on Hamas have caused substantial, albeit not fatal, damage to the group.
What about the economic fallout? Even prior to the conflict, Gaza’s economy was already strained due to ongoing blockades. With two-thirds of the population living in poverty and an unemployment rate skyrocketing above 80%, a UNCTAD report reveals that Gaza’s economy has now shrunk to one-sixth of its size before the war, suggesting it may take decades for recovery.
Despite these grave challenges, a June poll from the Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research showed that 48% of respondents in Gaza still hold the belief that Hamas will eventually triumph over Israel. This enduring desire for mutual destruction remains a significant factor fueling the conflict.
Lastly, UN Secretary-General António Guterres has described the death toll and destruction from this conflict as the worst he has witnessed in his seven years in office. He raises a critical point regarding the potential deployment of peacekeeping forces, suggesting that such measures may be “unrealistic,” particularly questioning whether all parties, especially Israel, would agree to such actions.
