JERUSALEM — The Israel–Hamas war has stretched on for half a year and become one of the most destructive, deadly, and intractable conflicts of the 21st century.
Since Hamas’ Oct. 7 cross-border attack, Israel has pummeled the Gaza Strip, displacing the vast majority of the population and causing many to flee to Gaza‘s southernmost city, Rafah. Food is scarce, the U.N. says famine is approaching and few Palestinians have been able to leave the besieged territory.
Meanwhile, Hamas continues to fire rockets into Israel from Gaza, and Hezbollah and other militant groups do so from southern Lebanon, prompting tit-for-tat fighting that has displaced thousands of civilians on both sides of Israel‘s borders. Hamas is still holding hostages taken during the Oct. 7 raid, as well as the bodies of some who died in captivity. And cease-fire talks stretch on with no end in sight.
Here’s a look at the conflict by numbers, which mainly come from the Israeli military and prime minister’s office, the Gaza health ministry, the U.N.’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and Associated Press reporting.
Palestinians killed in Gaza: 33,137
Children killed in Gaza: more than 13,000
PHOTOS: Half a year into the war in Gaza, here’s a look at the conflict by the numbers
People killed in Israel: about 1,200
Palestinians killed in the West Bank: 456
People killed in Lebanon: at least 343
Civilians killed in Gaza: Gaza’s health ministry doesn’t distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it says women and children have made up around two-thirds of those killed.
Civilians and foreigners killed in Israel on Oct. 7: 780
First responders killed in Israel on Oct. 7: 62
Civilians killed since Oct. 7 in Israel along its northern border: 9
Civilians killed in Lebanon: At least 50
Aid workers killed in Gaza: 224, including at least 30 killed in the line of duty
Health workers killed in Gaza: 484
Journalists killed in Gaza: At least 95
Militants killed by Israel in Gaza: more than 13,000, according to the Israeli military
Israeli soldiers killed in the Gaza ground offensive: 256
Israeli soldiers killed on Oct. 7: 314
Israeli soldiers killed along Israel‘s northern front since Oct. 7: 11
Militants killed in Lebanon: About 280, mostly from Hezbollah
Percentage of buildings likely damaged/destroyed: 55.9%
Percentage of homes likely damaged: more than 60%
Percentage of school buildings damaged: 90%
Hospitals that are functioning: 10/36
Palestinian civilians facing “catastrophic” food insecurity, according to the U.N.: 1.1 million
Percentage of northern Gaza children under age 2 who are acutely malnourished: 31%
Percentage of students out of school: 100%
Mosques damaged: 227
Churches damaged: 3
Palestinians injured in Gaza since Oct. 7: 75,815
Palestinians injured in the West Bank since Oct. 7: 4,750
Israeli soldiers injured since the beginning of the ground offensive: 1,549
Israeli civilians injured on Oct. 7: 4,834
Palestinians currently displaced in Gaza: 1.7 million (70% of the population)
Israelis currently displaced from border communities: 90,000 (under 1% of the population)
Hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7: 253
Hostages freed: 123
Hostages who are alive or haven’t been confirmed dead: 98, including two who were taken before Oct. 7
Hostages confirmed to have died in Hamas captivity: 36, including two taken before Oct. 7
Palestinian prisoners freed during weeklong pause in fighting: 240