Over 20,000 Children Killed as Gaza’s Death Toll Hits 67,000

Two years after Israel’s military offensive on the Gaza Strip began, the Gaza Health Ministry announced that the death toll has reached 67,173, marking one of the deadliest humanitarian crises in modern history. The ministry’s report described the destruction not only in human terms but also as the systematic dismantling of Gaza’s health infrastructure, calling it “a 730-day assault on the foundation of human existence.”

A Generation Lost: Children and Health Workers Among the Dead

According to the ministry, 20,179 of the dead are children, 10,427 are women, and 4,813 are elderly.
The conflict has also devastated the medical community: 1,701 healthcare workers have been killed, and 362 others detained by Israeli forces.

The report further revealed that 460 people — including 154 children — have died from hunger and malnutrition, while over 51,000 children under five suffer from severe nutritional deficiencies due to the blockade and ongoing attacks.

Health System on the Brink of Collapse

The Gaza Health Ministry accused Israel of committing a crime of genocide against the health system, claiming deliberate attacks on hospitals, oxygen facilities, and power infrastructure.
Out of 38 hospitals, only 13 remain operational, running at 225% capacity. The remaining facilities are either destroyed or inaccessible. Similarly, 103 of 157 health centers have been wiped out, leaving thousands without even basic medical care.

Infrastructure vital for survival has also been targeted: 25 of 35 oxygen plants and 61 of 110 power stations are out of service, crippling efforts to sustain intensive care, surgical units, and maternity wards.

Sealed Borders, Blocked Lifelines

The report condemned the ongoing closure of Gaza’s border crossings, which it said has prevented 18,000 patients and wounded civilians — including 5,580 children — from receiving life-saving treatment abroad. International humanitarian organizations continue to warn that Gaza’s isolation is creating a “death trap” for the sick and displaced.

A Health System Under Siege

What began as a conflict has evolved into what medical experts describe as the annihilation of a healthcare ecosystem. With hospitals overwhelmed, medical supplies depleted, and healthcare personnel killed or detained, Gaza’s population faces an existential health catastrophe.

The Health Ministry emphasized that the attacks have transformed hospitals from places of healing into symbols of endurance and loss, warning that without immediate international intervention, the remaining fragments of Gaza’s health system could collapse entirely.