the conflict has left more than 30,000 dead in Gaza, according to the Palestinian movement

Terrible assessment. The Hamas Ministry of Health announced Thursday February 29 that the conflict with Israel, which began on October 7, had “more than 30,000” dead in Gaza. This assessment comes as the main mediators in the war, the United States and Qatar, say they hope to obtain a truce allowing the release of hostages held in Gaza before the start of Ramadan, the holy Muslim month of fasting which begins around from March 11.

The war, which transformed the Palestinian territory into “death zone” according to the UN, is already, by far, the deadliest of the five conflicts between Israel and Hamas since the latter took power in Gaza in 2007. In total, 1.7 million Palestinians out of the 2, 4 million inhabitants fled their homes devastated by the bombings. The vast majority of the population in Gaza is threatened with famine according to the UN, particularly in the north, where destruction, fighting and looting make the delivery of aid almost impossible.

On the Israeli side, the terrorist attack of October 7 caused the death of at least 1,160 people, the majority civilians, according to an AFP count based on official data. During the attack, some 250 people were kidnapped and taken to Gaza. According to Israel, 130 hostages are still being held there, 31 of whom are believed to have died, after the release of 105 hostages in exchange for 240 Palestinian prisoners during a truce at the end of November. In retaliation, Israel vowed to annihilate Hamas, which it considers, along with the United States and the European Union, to be a terrorist organization.