Gaza’s Rising Toll: Another Tragedy Amid a Devastating Conflict

More than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel’s offensive on Gaza, according to the territory’s health ministry. Despite a ceasefire announced on 10 October, the death toll continues to rise as airstrikes persist and bodies are recovered from the rubble.

Among the latest casualties were two young brothers, Fadi and Juma Abu Assi. Relatives say the boys, aged eight and around ten, were gathering firewood east of Khan Younis when they were killed in a drone strike. Their funeral was held at Nasser Hospital on Saturday.

The Israeli military stated it targeted two suspects who had crossed the designated “yellow line,” a boundary set under a US-brokered ceasefire. Gaza’s Health Ministry, whose figures are widely used by the UN and international institutions, now reports 70,100 deaths including more than 350 since the ceasefire. Israel disputes these figures, and independent verification remains impossible as foreign journalists are blocked from entering Gaza.

The current offensive began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which killed about 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages being taken. Nearly a year later, the humanitarian impact on Gaza continues to deepen, with families bearing the weight of ongoing loss and instability.