Tragic Situation in Gaza: Studies Indicate Higher Death Toll and Report on Torture

Residents of the Gaza Strip have begun another month of fasting in the shadow of ruins and a dramatic humanitarian crisis. Although a fragile ceasefire negotiated by the United States has been in effect since October, the situation for civilians has not improved significantly. A new study published by The Lancet Global Health has shed new light on the scale of the tragedy. According to the researchers, over 75,200 Palestinians were killed in the first 15 months of the war, representing about 3–4% of the enclave's population. This number exceeds the official data previously reported by local health services by nearly 25,000. More than half of the victims are women, children, and the elderly. The conflict in the Gaza Strip, escalating after Hamas's brutal attack on October 7, 2023, is one of the bloodiest episodes of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian dispute over territory and statehood since 1948. Simultaneously, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) published a shocking report on the fate of 59 Palestinian journalists held in Israeli prisons. Testimonies indicate they were subjected to beatings, starvation, and sexual violence. Israeli prison services reject these allegations, but international pressure is mounting. The UN has expressed deep concern over actions that may bear the hallmarks of ethnic cleansing, pointing to the systematic destruction of entire neighborhoods and the blocking of humanitarian aid. Meanwhile, Hamas is conducting internal elections for an interim leader, which could influence the movement's future direction in talks about post-war administration. Official data: 49000, The Lancet analysis: 75200 On the international stage, opposition to Israel's expansion in the West Bank is growing. Over 100 countries, including Ireland, have condemned unilateral decisions to expand settlements, calling them "de facto annexation." In Washington, the work of the Board of Peace council established by Donald Trump, tasked with overseeing Gaza's reconstruction, has begun. However, controversial reports have emerged about plans to build a US military base in the enclave, which has drawn criticism from Egypt and Jordan. Despite the ongoing pause in fighting, organizations like Amnesty International warn that bombings have not completely ceased, and life in Gaza still resembles a struggle for survival. 75,200 — Palestinian victims according to the latest medical research The practice of administrative detention, used by Israel, allows for holding suspects without charge for renewable six-month periods, which has drawn opposition from human rights defenders for decades.