Gaza City, August 12, 2025 — According to figures released by Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 89 Palestinians have been killed over the past 24 hours as Israeli air and ground assaults intensified across Gaza Strip, according to figures provided by Health Ministry figures. 31 individuals seeking humanitarian aid were among those caught up in Israeli strikes.
The Ministry reported 513 wounded during this same timeframe, many with potentially life-threatening injuries. Medical officials cautioned that casualty numbers may rise further as search and rescue teams continue to retrieve bodies from collapsed buildings and targeted sites.
Hunger Contributes to Death Toll
Aside from direct military actions, five additional deaths have been linked with hunger and malnutrition since the conflict started, including two children. Aid agencies report this brings the total of starvation-related fatalities since then to 227; aid agencies claim blockades and hostilities have severely restricted food supplies resulting in famine-like conditions in several districts of Gaza.
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued an urgent appeal for medical and humanitarian aid delivery, noting that most hospitals in Gaza are now operating at over 300% capacity and experiencing critical shortages of medicine, fuel, and equipment. Furthermore, only 25% of healthcare facilities remain partially functional in Gaza which places immense strain on doctors and emergency responders.
Israeli Forces Expand Strikes as Ceasefire Talks Relapse
Israeli forces conducted coordinated strikes overnight that resulted in at least 11 people dying in eastern Gaza City; additional fatalities have also been reported from Khan Younis and Mawasi coastal area, following the collapse of internationally-mediated ceasefire talks. This latest round of attacks comes following international mediation to reach an accord for peace between Hamas and Israel on April 14.
Hamas Political Leader Khalil al-Hayya will soon arrive in Cairo in an effort to revive negotiations, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has warned of impending preparations for an offensive aimed at “removing militant threats” and consolidating control in parts of Gaza.
International Reaction and Diplomatic Fallout Humanitarian organizations and several governments have expressed outrage at the increasing civilian deaths, prompting an urgent session of the UN Security Council. Many member states advocated an immediate cessation of hostilities; while the US upheld Israel’s right to self-defense while calling for “measured action” that prevents further civilian harm.
Australia recently made an historic diplomatic statement when they announced they will formally recognize a Palestinian state, citing the urgent moral imperative for supporting political resolution to this conflict. Other nations may follow suit and increase diplomatic pressure against Israel.
Since hostilities began on October 7, 2023, this conflict has claimed over 61,000 Palestinian lives and injured hundreds of thousands more, according to Gaza health authorities. Additionally, large parts of Gaza’s infrastructure – housing units, schools and medical facilities–have been either destroyed or rendered useless due to this bloody conflict.
Humanitarian corridors remain largely closed and aid deliveries sporadic and inadequate to meet the needs of Gaza’s displaced population. According to UN agencies’ estimates, most residents face acute food insecurity while clean water and electricity supplies remain critically low.
As Gaza slides deeper into crisis, humanitarian groups warn that without an ongoing ceasefire and secure aid access, Gaza could collapse irrevocably into social and medical chaos.