Quick summary
• The official death toll in Gaza has surged to 61,709, with thousands of previously missing Palestinians now presumed dead, including 17,881 children and 214 newborns.
• Mass graves and bodies buried under rubble continue to be discovered as people return to their destroyed neighborhoods, with at least 14,222 people still trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
• The U.S., Qatar, and Egypt are negotiating a permanent cease-fire, but if no agreement is reached, fighting could resume in March.
• More than 2 million Palestinians have been forcibly displaced, many forced to relocate over 25 times, while Gaza’s healthcare system, emergency services, and basic infrastructure have been decimated.
• Over 200 journalists and 1,155 medical personnel have been killed, leading human rights groups to accuse Israel of war crimes and targeting civilians and media workers.
• The Trump administration continues providing military aid to Israel, even as it cuts nearly all other foreign assistance, fueling global calls for accountability.
• Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu is meeting with Trump, facing pressure from far-right allies to abandon the cease-fire and continue attacks on Gaza.
The official death toll in Gaza has surged to 61,709, with thousands of previously missing Palestinians now presumed dead, according to officials. Salama Maarouf, head of Gaza’s Government Information Office, announced the updated figure during a press conference at the largely destroyed al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.
Authorities and human rights advocates have long warned that the actual death toll was likely far higher than previous counts due to the destruction of Gaza’s healthcare system and civil services. Journalist Jeremy Scahill of Drop Site News reported that as people return to their neighborhoods, they are discovering mass graves and bodies buried under rubble.
Maarouf stated that 76% of those killed have been recovered, but 14,222 people remain trapped beneath destroyed buildings or in areas inaccessible to rescuers. The latest figures include 17,881 children, among them 214 newborn infants.
As mediators from the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt continue talks on a permanent cease-fire, the horrifying scope of Israel’s assault is only now coming fully into view. The negotiations follow a fragile truce, under which nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners are set to be freed from Israeli prisons by March, and 33 Israeli hostages will be released by Hamas. If no long-term deal is reached, fighting could resume in March.
British Member of Parliament Jeremy Corbyn condemned the mass killings, stating:
“Officials must face justice for every single life lost. So should those who continued to send weapons, knowing full well they were enabling genocide.”
Meanwhile, the death toll in the occupied West Bank continues to rise, with at least 70 Palestinians killed since the beginning of 2025, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. Israeli forces and settlers have escalated attacks on Palestinian towns and refugee camps, further intensifying the humanitarian crisis.
As search and recovery efforts continue, the confirmed death toll has risen dramatically. Journalist Prem Thakker of Zeteo News noted:
“The horrors we are about to discover if a cease-fire actually holds will underscore why Israel didn’t want international journalists inside—and why they kept targeting Palestinian journalists.”
Maarouf confirmed that thousands of bodies are still being discovered, with many areas previously inaccessible due to Israeli attacks now being searched for remains. The majority of Gaza’s infrastructure has been obliterated, turning entire neighborhoods into burial sites.
Israel’s bombardment has decimated hospitals, emergency services, and water infrastructure, leaving medical personnel unable to treat survivors effectively. According to Maarouf, the war has killed at least 1,155 medical personnel, 205 journalists, and 194 civil defense workers.
The scale of displacement is staggering. Over 2 million people—nearly Gaza’s entire population—have been forcibly displaced, with many forced to relocate more than 25 times to escape the bombardment.
Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzom reported from Gaza’s al-Rashid Street, where Palestinians are now returning to their northern hometowns, only to find their homes have become graveyards.
The mass killing of journalists and civilians has drawn condemnation from human rights groups. More than 200 Palestinian journalists were killed before the cease-fire took effect in mid-January, making it one of the deadliest conflicts for media workers in history.
Humanitarian organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, have repeatedly warned that Israel’s attacks on hospitals, journalists, and civilian populations constitute war crimes.
While global attention is focused on Gaza, violence continues to escalate in the West Bank. Since the beginning of 2025, Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 70 Palestinians. Attacks on Palestinian towns and refugee camps have increased, as Trump’s administration continues supplying military aid to Israel while freezing nearly all other foreign assistance.
Despite growing international condemnation, the Trump administration remains Israel’s strongest military backer. While cutting aid to nearly every other foreign assistance program, Trump has vowed to continue sending weapons and military support to Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in Washington, D.C., meeting with Trump, where he faces pressure from far-right members of his government to abandon the cease-fire and resume attacks on Gaza.
Netanyahu, who alongside other Israeli officials and Hamas leaders is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes, stated that his meetings with Trump will focus on:
• “Victory over Hamas.”
• “Achieving the release of all our hostages.”
• “Dealing with the Iranian terror axis.”
The U.S. remains Israel’s largest arms supplier, providing billions in military aid annually. Human rights groups warn that continued U.S. support enables mass civilian casualties and potential war crimes.
Mediators from the U.S., Qatar, and Egypt are working to broker a permanent cease-fire, but the agreement remains tenuous. The first phase includes:
• The release of 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
• The return of 33 Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
• The delivery of hundreds of aid trucks into Gaza.
If no long-term deal is reached, fighting could resume in March.
Far-right elements in Israel’s government oppose the cease-fire and demand a continuation of military operations. If Netanyahu resumes the war, Gaza’s humanitarian crisis will escalate even further.
Call to action: What you can do
Contact your representatives and demand an end to U.S. military aid to Israel.
Support humanitarian organizations providing aid to Gaza.
Raise awareness by sharing this article—media coverage is critical in exposing war crimes and pushing for accountability.
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