GAZA CITY: Gaza marked 1,000 days since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, as the Gaza Ministry of Health reported the cumulative death toll had risen to 73,098 since October 2023.
According to the ministry, 1,072 Palestinians have been killed since the collapse of the October ceasefire, while Gaza’s Government Media Office said more than 90 percent of the territory has been destroyed during the conflict.
Were There New Casualties This Week?
Hostilities continued throughout the week, with local authorities reporting multiple fatalities in Israeli strikes across the enclave.
Health officials and local reports said several Palestinians, including children, were killed in drone strikes and attacks targeting various locations, including displacement camps in the al-Mawasi humanitarian zone and areas near Khan Younis and Gaza City.
The figures and accounts have not been independently verified.
What Is the Status of Gaza’s Health Sector?
Medical workers and patients gathered outside Al-Shifa Hospital to call for the easing of restrictions on medical evacuations.
Gaza health authorities said more than 20,000 patients require evacuation through the Rafah crossing for specialized medical treatment unavailable inside the territory.
Separately, the family of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, director of Kamal Adwan Hospital, said his health has deteriorated while in Israeli detention.
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has called for his immediate release, stating that his detention violates international human rights standards.
Has Gaza’s Civilian Administration Changed?
The Hamas-run administration announced the dissolution of its civilian governing body and said authority would be transferred to a technocratic committee as part of a proposed post-war governance framework.
Committee officials said they are prepared to assume administrative responsibilities once the necessary political and operational conditions are met.
What Developments Have Taken Place in the Occupied West Bank?
Israeli authorities approved plans for 13 new settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to Israeli and Palestinian officials.
The decision came as settlement expansion, demolition of Palestinian structures and settler-related incidents continued across several areas of the occupied territory.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said more than 2,300 Palestinians, including over 1,000 children, have been displaced in the occupied West Bank during 2026.
What Is the Broader Context?
The conflict, which began in October 2023, continues to fuel a worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza while diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting ceasefire remain unresolved.
Israeli authorities have previously stated that military operations are aimed at dismantling Hamas following the group’s October 2023 attack on Israel, while humanitarian organizations continue to warn of deteriorating conditions for civilians in Gaza.