The conflict in Gaza began with an incursion by Hamas-led militants into southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 deaths, predominantly civilians, and the abduction of 251 individuals. Presently, 48 hostages, with fewer than half presumed to be alive, are still held in Gaza.
Official figures from the Hamas-controlled health ministry in Gaza report that over 64,964 people have lost their lives in Israeli assaults since the initial incursion. The vast majority of residences are estimated to have suffered damage or destruction. Vital infrastructure like healthcare, water supply, sanitation, and hygiene systems have collapsed, leading to a UN-backed declaration of a famine in Gaza City.
An independent panel of experts appointed by the United Nations Human Rights Council has determined that Israel is engaging in genocide in Gaza. The experts identified evidence of four out of five genocidal actions as defined by international law, including the killing of group members, inflicting severe physical or mental harm, intentionally causing conditions leading to destruction, and obstructing births.
While the investigative team was mandated by the Human Rights Council, a leading UN human rights entity, their findings do not represent the United Nations as a whole. Israel has strongly refuted the report, labeling it as “distorted and baseless.”
For the innocent civilians caught in the turmoil, the situation transcends political, religious, or retaliatory motives. They find themselves thrust into a dire struggle for survival, witnessing unspeakable atrocities and experiencing the loss of their loved ones.
Mandy Blackman, a 56-year-old volunteer operating a field hospital in al-Mawasi, Gaza, for the charity UK-Med, vividly recounts the grim realities faced on the front lines:
“My daily routine starts with witnessing emaciated children trying to rouse their deceased parents in al-Mawansi, Gaza. Desperate parents plead for essentials like food, diapers, and medical aid for their ailing children. I attend to gunshot wounds daily, affecting individuals of all ages and genders, with many sustaining life-altering injuries. The hospital sees patients arriving on donkey-pulled carts, while relatives search frantically for missing children in the chaos.”
The harrowing accounts from the frontline in Gaza depict a challenging environment where basic medical supplies are scarce, and the staff operates under immense pressure to provide care amid escalating turmoil.