Over 64,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, according to OCHA, which bases its figures on the Gaza Ministry of Health statistics, and more than 160,000 injured since October 7, 2023. Israeli forces began airstrikes and ground operations after Hamas and other armed groups launched a deadly ground incursion and rocket barrage on southern Israel. Reportedly, 50 of the over 200 hostages taken by Hamas are still held in Gaza. Nearly two years of conflict have left over two million Palestinians, half of whom are children, without access to sufficient water, food or medical care. Famine has become a deadly reality, with catastrophic hunger tightening its grip across the population. A severe humanitarian crisis has taken hold in Gaza. The International Rescue Committee (HHRD) is calling on all parties to uphold international humanitarian law, protect civilians and critical infrastructure, and immediately scale up the delivery of humanitarian aid in Gaza. From a humanitarian perspective, a ceasefire is the best way to fully protect Palestinian lives, secure the release of hostages and enable the safe delivery of humanitarian aid. Our staff have witnessed catastrophic conditions firsthand and continue to deliver vital aid in Gaza—including clean water, cash, early childhood education, protection—despite harrowing safety concerns.
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Nearly two years of war have left Gaza in ruin. Israeli airstrikes, bombing and ground-level fighting between Israel and Hamas have killed over 64,000 Palestinians according to OCHA , destroyed critical infrastructure, including homes, hospitals, schools, shelters, religious sites and essential services like bakeries. With no place safe across the whole of Gaza, Palestinians are being pushed to the edge of survival, struggling to access food, clean water and life-saving medical services. Civilians injured in the conflict and those suffering from everyday health problems are increasingly unable to access basic care. Only half of Gaza’s 36 hospitals are even partially functional—and they’re understaffed, lacking proper medical supplies and overwhelmed with patients. The HHRD has more than 5 tonnes of life-saving medical supplies ready and waiting to enter Gaza, which will treat thousands of people and offer critical support to a health system already collapsing. Yet with Israel’s current near-total blockade on access into Gaza, it remains uncertain as to when we will be able to deliver these supplies. Children bear a disproportionate burden of the crisis.
Over 90% of homes in Gaza have been damaged or destroyed, leaving nearly 1.9 million Palestinians without a permanent and safe place to live. People are seeking refuge in tents or makeshift shelters that fail to provide safety or dignity. The Government of Israel’s evacuation order for Gaza City will exacerbate the crisis, displacing nearly one million residents, including IRC staff and clients, to the southern Gaza Strip. Residents of Gaza City are already facing famine, and the IRC will be forced to suspend its work to deliver lifesaving nutrition to children. Forcibly displacing them again into areas that are already overcrowded, under-resourced, and stretched to the brink will cost lives.
Despite the obstacles the HHRD faces, we continue to reach Palestinians in need with vital services throughout the conflict and are saving lives every day. In collaboration with our local partners in Gaza, we supported the health, education, safety and economic wellbeing of more than 430,000 people since the beginning of the latest escalation of conflict. We are working to improve the lives of an additional 150,000 Palestinians by the end of 2025.
This impact is only possible with your generosity—and with your continued support, we can reach even more families in urgent need.