200 Days of Violence in Gaza: Over 34,000 Palestinians Killed, Mass Graves Discovered

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza has reached a grim milestone, with the death toll surpassing 34,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, after 200 days of Israeli military offensive. The conflict, which began on October 7, 2023, with a cross-border attack by Hamas militants that claimed around 1,170 lives, has escalated into one of the most destructive wars in the region's history.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, Israeli attacks have killed 34,262 Palestinians and wounded 77,229 others over the past 200 days. The United Nations has expressed horror at the scale of destruction, with entire residential areas reduced to rubble and critical infrastructure severely damaged. The cost of damage to infrastructure in the first four months alone is estimated at $18.5 billion, while 90,000 housing units have been destroyed and 300,000 damaged.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached catastrophic levels, with over 1.1 million people, half of the enclave's pre-war population, facing acute food insecurity and the risk of famine. The destruction of healthcare facilities has severely impacted the right to health, with only 10 of Gaza's 36 hospitals minimally functional and at least 350 healthcare professionals killed.

Why this matters: The ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza has resulted in a staggering loss of life, widespread destruction, and a dire humanitarian crisis. The international community's failure to effectively intervene and broker a lasting ceasefire raises concerns about the protection of civilian lives and the need for accountability in the face of alleged war crimes.

The discovery of mass graves at two major hospitals in Gaza following the withdrawal of Israeli troops has further shocked the international community. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, has called for an independent, effective, and transparent investigation into the deaths, stating that "the intentional killing of civilians is a war crime." The Palestinian civil defense has recovered 324 bodies from a mass grave at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, with some showing signs of field executions.

Despite growing international pressure, the United States has vetoed UN Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire on three occasions since the start of the offensive. The Biden administration has stated that it is inquiring about the discovery of the mass graves with the Israeli government, but there is no concrete sign that the U.S. will withhold aid to Israel.

As the conflict continues, with Hamas vowing to escalate attacks across all fronts and the IDF warning residents in northern Gaza to evacuate to designated areas, the prospects for a peaceful resolution remain bleak. The UN has called for a meaningful and uninterrupted supply of aid to avert famine in northern Gaza, while the international community grapples with the need for accountability and justice for the victims of <a href="https://www.news18.com/world/israel

Key Takeaways

• Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza has killed 34,262 Palestinians in 200 days.
• Destruction of infrastructure estimated at $18.5B, 90,000 homes destroyed, 300,000 damaged.
• 1.1M Gazans face acute food insecurity, only 10 of 36 hospitals minimally functional.
• Mass graves discovered at hospitals, UN calls for investigation into war crimes.
• US has vetoed UN resolutions for ceasefire, no signs of withholding aid to Israel.