The ongoing Israel-Hamas war, now in its 20th month, has claimed the lives of over 55,000 Palestinians, according to a grim update from the Gaza Health Ministry on Wednesday, June 11, 2025. The ministry reported that 55,104 people have been killed and 127,394 wounded since the conflict began on October 7, 2023, following Hamas’ attack on southern Israel.
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The death toll, which includes more than half women and children, marks a devastating milestone in a war that shows no signs of ending, with many more believed to be trapped under rubble or in areas inaccessible to medics.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that the remains of two additional hostages, killed during the initial Hamas attack, were recovered from Gaza, highlighting the ongoing tragedy of the hostage crisis.
The Gaza Health Ministry, staffed by medical professionals who maintain detailed records, noted that the casualties include those killed in Israeli airstrikes and ground operations across the Gaza Strip. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but emphasized that women and children make up a significant portion of the dead.
On Wednesday alone, local hospitals reported that at least 21 people were killed while trying to reach aid distribution sites, though the circumstances remain unclear. The Israeli military said it fired warning shots toward “suspects” posing a threat in central Gaza, maintaining that it targets only militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas for operating in densely populated areas.
The war has devastated Gaza, displacing about 90% of its 2.3 million residents and reducing large areas to rubble. A 2½-month blockade imposed by Israel after ending a ceasefire in March 2025 raised fears of famine, with aid delivery systems marred by chaos, violence, and looting.
The United Nations and aid groups have struggled to deliver food due to Israeli restrictions and a breakdown of law and order, with the World Health Organization reporting 57 children died from malnutrition since the blockade began.
On the hostage front, Israel recovered the remains of two hostages, identified as Yair Yaakov and another unnamed individual, in a complex operation in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. The Israeli military believes 53 hostages remain in captivity, with less than half thought to be alive.
Since the conflict began, over half of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas on October 7, 2023, have been released through ceasefires or deals, eight have been rescued, and dozens of bodies have been recovered. Hamas has offered to release the remaining hostages in exchange for more Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire, and a complete Israeli withdrawal, proposing to hand over power to an independent Palestinian committee.
However, Netanyahu has rejected these terms, insisting on temporary ceasefires only and vowing to continue the war until Hamas is defeated or disarmed and all hostages are returned.
He has also proposed controlling Gaza indefinitely and encouraging what he calls “voluntary emigration” of Palestinians, a plan widely criticized as forcible expulsion that could violate international law.
The conflict, sparked by Hamas’ attack that killed 1,200 Israelis, mostly civilians, has led to widespread destruction and suffering. Israel’s military campaign has drawn international condemnation, with accusations of disproportionate force and war crimes, while Israel accuses Hamas of using civilians as shields.
As ceasefire talks remain deadlocked, the recovery of hostage remains and the rising Palestinian death toll underscore the urgent need for a resolution to end the violence and address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Source: PRUDENTJ2