Gaza death toll nears 62,000 as missing presumed dead

Monday 03 February 2025 - 13:35

The death toll from the ongoing conflict in Gaza has reached approximately 61,709, according to updated figures from local authorities. This number now includes thousands of individuals previously reported as missing and are now presumed dead.

Officials from Gaza’s Government Information Office announced that about 76% of the bodies have been recovered and transported to medical facilities. However, an estimated 14,222 people remain trapped beneath the rubble or in locations inaccessible to rescue teams. Among the deceased are 17,881 children, including 214 newborns.

The crisis has also displaced over 2 million people, many forced to relocate more than 25 times under harsh conditions lacking basic necessities. Additionally, around 111,588 individuals have been injured since the conflict began.

These updated figures emerge during a fragile ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, temporarily halting over 15 months of continuous violence that escalated after the October 2023 Hamas attack in southern Israel, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths and 250 abductions. The ceasefire, expected to last until at least early March, has allowed Palestinian rescue teams to access previously unreachable areas. Humanitarian efforts have shifted from emergency rescues to recovery missions, with many destroyed homes now serving as mass graves.

The toll extends beyond civilians, with at least 1,155 medical workers, 205 journalists, and 194 civil defense personnel killed amid the ongoing hostilities.

Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts are progressing into the second phase of a proposed three-stage ceasefire plan, aiming for a permanent resolution. Mediators from Qatar, Egypt, and the United States are set to resume negotiations. However, if talks stall, fighting may resume in March.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, currently in Washington, D.C., faces domestic pressure from far-right factions to end the ceasefire prematurely. Netanyahu, along with other officials and Hamas leaders, faces allegations of war crimes under investigation by the International Criminal Court. Discussions with U.S. leaders are expected to focus on strategies concerning Hamas, the release of hostages, and broader regional security issues.