Gaza Health Ministry Reports 51 Deaths from Israeli Strikes, Death Toll Surpasses 52,000
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The Gaza Health Ministry reported Sunday that hospitals have received the remains of 51 Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours. This brings the total death toll from the 18-month-long Israel-Hamas war to 52,243.
Since Israel resumed military operations on March 18, ending a brief ceasefire, daily airstrikes have intensified. Israeli ground forces have expanded a buffer zone and now control roughly half of Gaza’s territory, including areas surrounding the southern city of Rafah.
For nearly two months, Israel has also blocked all imports into Gaza, including food and medicine, prompting warnings from aid organizations that supplies are nearly depleted and thousands of children are now malnourished.
The updated death toll includes around 700 individuals whose remains were recently identified, as well as victims recovered from earlier strikes. After the ministry’s update, another 12 Palestinians were reportedly killed in fresh attacks, including eight—three children and two women—in a strike on a tent in Khan Younis, and four others in Deir al-Balah.
Israeli authorities state the renewed offensive is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release hostages taken during the group’s October 7, 2023, attack, which killed around 1,200 people and resulted in 251 hostages. Most have since been released, though 59 remain in captivity. Hamas says it will only release the remaining hostages in exchange for a ceasefire, prisoner release, and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.
Israel claims to have killed about 20,000 Hamas fighters, though it has not provided evidence. It maintains that it seeks to minimize civilian casualties and blames Hamas for operating in heavily populated areas.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that women and children comprise the majority of Palestinian casualties. Over 117,600 people have been wounded, and about 90% of Gaza’s population has been displaced, many now living in overcrowded camps or the ruins of destroyed buildings.
