Gaza in ruins as settler violence intensifies across Palestinian territories

GAZA/JERUSALEM (MNTV) — Palestinian territories remain engulfed in devastation more than two years after Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023, with humanitarian agencies warning that destruction, displacement, starvation and violence continue across Gaza, the occupied West Bank, and East Jerusalem.

Large parts of Gaza remain buried under rubble following relentless Israeli bombardment and military operations that flattened entire neighborhoods, destroyed critical infrastructure, and displaced nearly the entire population at the peak of the war.

International humanitarian agencies and Palestinian authorities say reconstruction could take more than a decade under current conditions, as access restrictions and shortages of heavy equipment continue to hinder rescue and recovery operations.

Human toll — Gaza

According to Palestinian authorities and humanitarian agencies:

• Palestinians killed since October 7, 2023: 72,740
• Palestinians injured: 172,192
• Children killed: More than 17,400
• Women killed: More than 12,400
• Children and women among overall deaths: Around 70%
• Missing or believed trapped under rubble: More than 10,000
• Bodies recovered from rubble since ceasefire: 770

Since the ceasefire (October 11, 2025)

• Palestinians killed: 854
• Palestinians injured: 2,453
• Bodies recovered from debris: 770

Starvation and humanitarian crisis

Humanitarian organizations continue to warn of catastrophic hunger conditions across Gaza:

• Palestinians reported dead due to starvation and malnutrition: 382
• Children among starvation deaths: 135
• Children facing hunger: Around 900,000
• Children in critical malnutrition stage: Around 70,000
• Population displaced at peak of war: About 1.9 million

Housing destruction

Israeli bombardment caused unprecedented destruction across Gaza’s residential areas:

• Buildings damaged or destroyed: More than 80% across Gaza
• Housing units damaged or destroyed: More than 370,000
• Entire neighbourhoods flattened in northern Gaza, Gaza City, Khan Younis and Rafah

Infrastructure damage

Palestinian and UN agencies report severe destruction of civilian infrastructure:

• Hospitals damaged or destroyed: 35
• Schools and universities damaged or destroyed: More than 500 educational facilities
• Mosques damaged or destroyed: More than 800
• Churches damaged: Several major churches affected
• Roads damaged: Hundreds of kilometres
• Water and sanitation infrastructure heavily damaged across most of Gaza
• Electricity grid largely collapsed
• Municipal buildings, bakeries, markets and industrial facilities extensively damaged

Rubble and reconstruction

Recovery efforts remain severely constrained:

• Estimated rubble across Gaza: Around 61 million tons
• Estimated reconstruction cost: More than $50 billion
• Estimated years required for rebuilding: More than a decade under current conditions
• Heavy equipment available for rubble clearance: Severely limited
• Large areas remain inaccessible to rescue and recovery teams

Occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem

Israeli military raids and settler violence have also intensified across the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem since October 2023.

Human toll — West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem

• Palestinians killed since October 7, 2023: Around 1,100
• Palestinians injured: More than 11,500
• Children killed: More than 230
• Palestinians killed in 2026 so far: Around 50
• Palestinians injured in 2026 so far: More than 1,000

Israeli settler violence — West Bank and occupied East Jerusalem

Human rights organizations and Palestinian authorities report a sharp rise in settler attacks, forced displacement and property destruction:

• Reported Israeli settler attacks since October 7, 2023: More than 2,400
• Palestinians killed in settler attacks: More than 35
• Palestinian communities forcibly displaced due to settler violence and intimidation: More than 60
• Palestinians displaced by settler attacks and threats: More than 2,500
• Children displaced due to settler violence and related attacks: More than 1,100
• Olive groves and agricultural lands damaged or burned: Thousands of dunams
• Livestock thefts and destruction of Palestinian property reported across several rural communities
• Frequent attacks reported in areas near Nablus, Hebron, Ramallah, Jenin, Jordan Valley and South Hebron Hills
• Palestinian communities increasingly facing restrictions on grazing land and access to water sources
• Human rights groups report growing armed settler patrols and attacks under military protection in some areas
• East Jerusalem continues to witness settler takeovers, evictions and pressure on Palestinian neighbourhoods

The figures were compiled from Palestinian authorities, UN agencies and humanitarian organizations documenting the impact of the war and ongoing violence across Palestinian territories.

Sources include the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), WAFA News Agency, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza and multiple UN agencies.