The humanitarian toll in Gaza continues to rise despite a ceasefire declared earlier this month, with medical authorities reporting that at least 68,116 Palestinians have been killed and 170,200 others injured since Israel began its large-scale assault on the besieged enclave in October 2023.

According to medical sources, 29 Palestinians were killed in the past 48 hours, including 23 whose bodies were recovered from under the rubble, two who succumbed to their injuries, and four who were killed in direct Israeli airstrikes. Another 21 people were wounded during the same period.

The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed that even after the October 11, 2025 ceasefire, Israel’s military has continued sporadic violations, resulting in 27 new deaths and 143 injuries. Authorities also announced the retrieval of 404 bodies from previously inaccessible areas, along with the return of 135 bodies that were held by Israeli forces and handed back in recent days.

Officials added that 120 additional victims were recently included in the cumulative death toll after the judicial committee overseeing missing persons verified their identities between October 10 and 17, 2025.

Despite the ceasefire, thousands remain missing and are feared trapped beneath the ruins of their homes and shelters. Civil defense teams have struggled to reach affected areas due to continued Israeli restrictions and the extensive destruction of infrastructure.

Local health officials and humanitarian groups have repeatedly warned that the situation in Gaza remains catastrophic, with hospitals overwhelmed, limited access to fuel and medical supplies, and thousands of displaced families without shelter or clean water.

The continued loss of life, even after the ceasefire announcement, has drawn growing condemnation from international organizations, who have called on Israel to fully adhere to the truce and allow unrestricted humanitarian access to the devastated enclave. (ILKHA)