GAZA CITY — Gaza’s Ministry of Health under Hamas administration announced on July 27, 2025, that over 59,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched their military offensive in October 2023, prompting widespread civilian suffering amid escalated violence and increasing humanitarian collapse, and providing Al Jazeera, Reuters and Wikipedia as sources for this figure.
Israeli forces have recently intensified air and ground operations across major population centers such as Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Khan Younis citing strikes against Hamas infrastructure. Aid agencies and UN bodies report these operations have had an overwhelming effect on civilians – women, children, and elderly being particularly hard hit – who comprise at least 80% of casualties according to various assessments (TIME | AP News | Reuters).
July 2025 is set to become Gaza’s deadliest month since 2015, according to analysts, with one death occurring approximately every 12 minutes as health facilities become overwhelmed and malnutrition rates spike and grain shortages plague the civilian population, according to ReliefWeb and Wikipedia respectively.
Humanitarian Officials Report Over 1000 Food Aid Seeker Deaths Since May Humanitarian officials estimate over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed since May in an effort to access food aid through sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, often during attempts near sites run by them and near where live fire from Israeli forces was being fired into distribution points, contributing directly to stampedes, gunfire and chaotic crowding at distribution points which has only compounded the crisis further with some deaths directly tied to Israeli forces live fire; TIME +2 Ideastream +2 and AP News both report +2.
Starvation has already claimed over 100 lives, including 80 children. Additionally, nearly 100,000 women and children are suffering severe acute malnutrition with humanitarian experts warning of an impending “man-made famine” due to prolonged blockades and restricted access. For the latest updates from this story please check The Guardian +15 or TIME +15 for news coverage of this developing story.
Humanitarian Measures: Limited and Controversial As pressure from around the world mounted, Israeli forces announced 10-hour tactical pauses in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and al-Mawasi to facilitate aid delivery. Temporary corridors will remain open from 6 am to 11 pm daily as well as limited airdrops coordinated with international agencies (AP News = +3)
Critics still view these measures as insufficient; aid organizations, UN officials, and international politicians all consider land routes essential, while airdrops remain costly, inefficient, and vulnerable to misdistribution or theft–all factors which increase civil risk and hunger. The Washington Post.
Strategic Implications and Outcome
Increase in civilian suffering: With death tolls steadily rising amid food shortages, healthcare collapse, and infrastructure devastation in Gaza, civilians are facing an unprecedented survival crisis.
Aid delivery under strain: Violent clashes near aid sites, looting of flour deliveries and insecurity surrounding distribution have seriously undermined relief efforts.
International Pressure: Over 20 countries including France and Britain have called for an immediate ceasefire, lifting of the blockade and unhindered aid access for Gaza. Israel has rejected these criticisms by pointing to Hamas’ role in prolonging this conflict (TIME +2 Wikipedia +2 The Washington Post + 2 AP News)… This summary may help.
Since hostilities began in October 2023, Gaza has witnessed over 59,000 civilian deaths mainly related to hostilities.
Compounding this dire situation is acute famine, with thousands perishing at aid relief sites and children dying due to malnutrition.
Humanitarian corridors and pauses provide limited relief, yet widespread insecurity and blocked routes still threaten lives.
As the death toll, starvation, and economic damage continue to mount from this conflict, it requires urgent political solutions in order to limit further suffering and loss.