NextFin news, The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza announced on August 18, 2025, that the death toll in the Gaza Strip has surpassed 62,000 since the Israeli military offensive began in October 2023. This figure includes at least 60 people who died in the past 24 hours, according to the ministry's daily hospital data.
Among the recent fatalities, 27 people were killed while attempting to receive food aid at distribution points operated by the Humanitarian Foundation for Gaza, an organization supported by the United States and Israel. Others died near crossings where limited United Nations and humanitarian aid trucks enter the enclave.
The ministry, which is overseen by Hamas authorities, also reported over 156,000 injuries since the conflict began. Additionally, at least five people, including two infants aged three and five months, died in the last day due to hunger and malnutrition. Since the start of the offensive, local authorities estimate that more than 260 people have died from starvation and malnutrition.
The Israeli military launched the offensive following attacks by the Palestinian extremist group Hamas on October 7, 2023. The ongoing conflict has resulted in widespread destruction of Gaza's infrastructure and the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of residents. Israel has also imposed a blockade restricting humanitarian aid deliveries to the territory.
Recent reports indicate that the Gaza Health Ministry's daily updates highlight the difficulty in reaching victims trapped under rubble or on roads due to ongoing hostilities and limited access for ambulances and civil defense teams.
Hamas has reportedly accepted a ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar, although Israel has yet to respond. The situation remains critical as Israeli forces continue their military operations in densely populated areas of Gaza City, including neighborhoods such as Daraj, Shujaiya, al-Tuffah, and Zeitoun.
International organizations, including Amnesty International, have documented severe hunger and malnutrition in Gaza, attributing it to deliberate policies by Israel aimed at inflicting suffering on the Palestinian population.
Efforts to evacuate and provide medical treatment to ill and injured Palestinian children are underway, with some expected to be transferred abroad for care in the coming weeks. However, humanitarian access remains severely constrained amid the ongoing conflict.
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