Israeli attacks on Gaza leave 66,000 dead, 750,000 Palestinians displaced

Another 77 people have been killed and at least 379 injured in attacks by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip, Palestine, in the last 24 hours. The Health Ministry in the besieged valley also announced the recovery of two more bodies from the rubble of the previous Israeli attack, and the identification of another 300 people previously killed and their inclusion in the casualty list.

Meanwhile, more than 750,000 Palestinians have been displaced from their homes so far in the massive Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operation to occupy Gaza City. The IDF has been conducting a coordinated operation since August 11 to drive the 1 million residents and Palestinian refugees of the valley's largest urban center south.

Citing the Ministry of Health, Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera reported that the death toll from Israeli attacks has risen to 66,050, with at least 168,162 injured in the nearly two years since the war began on October 7, 2023. In addition, 440 people, 147 of whom are children, have died from Israeli-induced famine and malnutrition. Of these, 164, including 32 children, have died since the UN-backed Hunger Monitoring Program (IPC) declared northern Gaza a famine zone last month.

However, the ministry claims that the actual number of casualties is higher because many bodies are buried under the rubble. But rescue operations are being hampered due to a lack of sufficient manpower and equipment.

Turkey's Anadolu news agency reported that 48 people died in Gaza City alone from Friday evening (September 26) to Saturday evening (September 27). Another 17 aid seekers were killed and at least 89 injured when Israeli forces opened fire on them while they were receiving humanitarian aid from the Israeli- and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Since the controversial GHF operation began on May 27, the number of aid seekers killed has reached 2,560, while another 18,703 have been injured.

Meanwhile, The Times of Israel reported on Saturday (September 27) that while there were about one million Palestinians living in Gaza City before the operation, their number now stands at less than 250,000. The remaining 750,000 people have left.

Israel has ordered civilians to evacuate to designated "humanitarian zones" in the al-Mawasi area of ​​southern Gaza. The rate of evacuations from Gaza has also increased as the IDF pushed deeper into the city over the past week.

"Gaza City is almost emptying out. Residents understand that the military operation is intensifying and that it is safer to move south," said Colonel Avighai Adraei, an IDF Arabic spokesman.

"We call on everyone to immediately move to the humanitarian zone of Al-Mawasi and join the 750,000 people who have left Gaza for their safety," he said.

On October 7, 2023, Hamas attacked the Gaza Strip, killing 1,200 Israelis and taking 251 hostages. There are still 48 prisoners in Gaza. At least 20 of them are believed to be alive. Israel is continuing its military operation across Gaza, claiming to rescue them.

Despite announcing a ceasefire on January 19 of this year under pressure from the United States and other mediating countries, Israel has been conducting military operations again since March 18. So far, 13,060 Palestinians have been killed and 55,742 injured in this second phase of the campaign.