Gaza well being officers say greater than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel-Hamas conflict

[ad_1] DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Palestinian dying toll from the 20-month Israel-Hamas war climbed previous 55,000, the Gaza Well being Ministry mentioned Wednesday, and native hospitals mentioned a minimum of 21 individuals have been killed whereas on their strategy to support distribution websites.

The circumstances of the deaths reported close to the websites weren't instantly clear. The Israeli military mentioned Wednesday it fired warning photographs in central Gaza towards “suspects” that posed a menace to troops.

The Gaza Well being Ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants, however has mentioned that ladies and youngsters make up greater than half the 55,000 useless. Israel says it solely targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas, accusing the militants of hiding amongst civilians, as a result of they function in populated areas.

The ministry says 55,104 individuals have been killed because the begin of the conflict and 127,394 wounded. Many extra are believed to be buried below the rubble or in areas which are inaccessible to native medics. The determine didn't embody Wednesday’s deaths.

The Health Ministry is a part of Gaza’s Hamas-run authorities, however staffed by medical professionals who keep and publish detailed information. Its tolls from earlier conflicts have largely aligned with these of impartial consultants, although Israel has questioned the ministry’s figures.

Additionally Wednesday, Israel mentioned forces recovered the stays of two extra hostages held in Gaza. Militants nonetheless maintain 53 captives, lower than half of them believed to be alive.

A Palestinian man, who was injured Tuesday evening whereas making an attempt to get entry to humanitarian support, waits to be handled on the al-Shifa Hospital, in Gaza Metropolis, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photograph/Jehad Alshrafi)

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A Palestinian, who was injured final evening whereas making an attempt to get entry to humanitarian support, waits to be handled on the al-Shifa Hospital, in Gaza Metropolis, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photograph/Jehad Alshrafi)

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Casualties at separate support hubs, well being officers say Well being officers in Gaza mentioned 14 individuals have been killed whereas on their strategy to gather support close to the southern metropolis of Rafah. Their our bodies have been taken to Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. In central Gaza, Al-Awda Hospital mentioned that seven extra individuals have been killed whereas on their strategy to an support distribution website.

The Israeli army mentioned troops fired warning photographs earlier than daylight towards individuals it recognized as suspects “who have been advancing whereas posing a menace” in central Gaza. The army had no rapid touch upon the studies of casualties in southern Gaza.

Safaa Farmawi mentioned her daughter, Ghazal Eyad, 16, was killed whereas on her strategy to gather meals in Rafah.

“My daughter and I went to get support, she got here earlier than me, I appeared for my daughter however couldn’t discover her. Folks informed me your daughter was martyred,” Farmawi informed the AP.

Near-daily shootings have erupted as crowds make their strategy to support websites run by a newly created support group rejected by the United Nations. Palestinian witnesses to earlier shootings have mentioned Israeli forces fired towards the crowds. The army has acknowledged firing warning photographs towards individuals it says approached its forces in a suspicious method.

The Gaza Humanitarian Basis, which operates the help distribution websites, says there was no violence in or across the distribution factors. It has warned individuals to remain on the designated routes and lately paused supply to debate security measures with the army.

A Palestinian lady waits subsequent to her son, who was injured final evening whereas making an attempt to get entry to humanitarian support, on the al-Shifa Hospital, in Gaza Metropolis, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photograph/Jehad Alshrafi)

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A Palestinian youth, who was injured final evening whereas making an attempt to get entry to humanitarian support, is handled on the al-Shifa Hospital, in Gaza Metropolis, Wednesday, June 11, 2025. (AP Photograph/Jehad Alshrafi)

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New support system marred by chaos The aid system rolled out last month has been marred by chaos and violence, whereas a longstanding U.N.-run system has struggled to ship meals due to Israeli restrictions and a breakdown of regulation and order, regardless of Israel loosening a total blockade it imposed from early March to mid-Could.

Specialists and human rights employees say starvation is widespread and that the territory of some 2 million Palestinians is at risk of famine if Israel doesn't absolutely elevate its blockade and halt its army marketing campaign, which it renewed in March after ending a ceasefire with Hamas .

Israel says the brand new support distribution system is designed to forestall Hamas from siphoning off support, however U.N. companies and main support teams say there isn't any proof of systematic diversion.

They are saying the brand new system violates humanitarian ideas by permitting Israel to manage who receives support and by encouraging extra mass displacement as Palestinians search entry to only three operational websites, two of them within the territory’s southernmost metropolis of Rafah, now a largely uninhabited army zone.

Israel recovers stays of two extra hostages Israeli authorities recognized one of many hostages recovered as Yair Yaakov who was killed through the Oct. 7, 2023, assault and whose physique was taken into Gaza. His associate and two kids have been additionally taken captive and launched in a ceasefire deal early within the conflict.

The second hostage’s identification was not disclosed.

Israeli Protection Minister Israel Katz mentioned the our bodies have been retrieved in a “advanced” operation with out disclosing particulars. The Israeli army mentioned they have been recovered from Khan Younis.

The conflict started when Hamas-led militants killed round 1,200 individuals, largely civilians, within the Oct. 7 assault and kidnapped 251 hostages. More than half the captives have been launched in ceasefires or different offers. Israeli forces have rescued eight and recovered the stays of dozens extra.

Hamas has mentioned it can solely launch the remaining hostages in return for extra Palestinian prisoners, an enduring ceasefire and an entire Israeli withdrawal. It has provided at hand over energy to a politically impartial Palestinian committee. however has not agreed to disarm.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected these phrases, saying that Israel will solely conform to short-term ceasefires to facilitate the return of hostages. He has vowed to proceed the conflict till all of the hostages are returned and Hamas is defeated or disarmed and despatched into exile.

Netanyahu says Israel will control Gaza indefinitely and facilitate what he refers to because the voluntary emigration of a lot of its inhabitants to different international locations. The Palestinians and many of the worldwide group reject such plans, viewing them as forcible expulsion that could violate international law .

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Khaled reported from Cairo.

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Comply with AP’s conflict protection at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

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