These numbers show the staggering losses in the Israel-Hamas war as Gaza deaths surpass 20,000
A food kitchen is feeding hundreds of residents in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah as fighting between Israel and Hamas rages on in the territory. (Dec. 21)
JERUSALEM (AP) — The latest conflict between Israel and Hamas is by far the deadliest and most destructive of their five wars since the militant group seized the Gaza Strip in 2007.
The fighting erupted on Oct. 7 when Hamas carried out a surprise attack in southern Israel. Since then, Israel has unleashed thousands of airstrikes and waged a fierce ground offensive, flattening entire neighborhoods. A weeklong ceasefire in late November saw Hamas release hostages from Gaza in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel.
Here’s a look at the toll of the war, as of Dec. 22, based on information from the Gaza Health Ministry and Israeli officials, as well as international observers and aid groups:
20,057
The number of Palestinians killed in Gaza.
301
The number of Palestinians killed in the West Bank.
Around 1,200
The number of people killed in Israel on Oct. 7.
139
The number of Israeli soldiers killed since the start of the Gaza ground offensive.
53,320
The number of Palestinians injured in Gaza.
6,184
The number of Israelis injured.
250,000
The number of Israelis displaced from the Gaza and Lebanon borders.
More than 1.9 million
The number of Palestinians displaced in Gaza, out of a population of 2.3 million.
Relatives and friends of Israeli Col. Asaf Hamami mourn during his funeral at the Kiryat Shaul military cemetery, in Tel Aviv, Israel, Monday, Dec. 4, 2023. Hamami, the commander of the Gaza Division’s Southern Brigade, was killed on Oct. 7, in the unprecedented, multi-front attack on Israel by the militant group Hamas that rules Gaza. and his remains are being held in the Gaza Strip, the Israeli military said. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)
129
The number of soldiers and civilians who are still being held hostage in Gaza.
110
The number of hostages released or rescued.
240
The number of Palestinian prisoners released from Israeli prisons during a weeklong cease-fire.
5,405
The number of aid trucks let into Gaza.
More than 11,500
The number of rockets fired towards Israel from Gaza.
More than 22,000
The number of targets struck by the Israeli military in Gaza.
___
Sources: Associated Press reports, Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli military, U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Palestinian Red Crescent, Palestinian Health Ministry, Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Prime Minister’s Office of Israel
___
Associated Press writer Julia Frankel contributed to this report from Jerusalem.
___
Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war.