Israel has expanded its military operation to Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip, an area where the vast majority of displaced Palestinians had been told to seek refuge.
Here are the latest casualty figures as of June 20 at 4:00pm in Gaza (13:15 GMT):
Gaza
- Killed: at least 37,431 people, including more than:
- More than 15,000 children killed
- Injured: more than 85,653 people
- Missing: more than 10,000
The latest figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health in the occupied West Bank are as follows:
Occupied West Bank
- Killed: at least 549 people, including more than:
- 135 children
- Injured: more than 5,200
In Israel, officials revised the death toll from the October 7 attacks down from 1,405 to 1,139.
Israel
- Killed: 1,139 people
- Injured: at least 8,730
Devastation across Gaza
According to the latest data from the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, the World Health Organization and the Palestinian government as of June 16, Israeli attacks have damaged:
- More than half of Gaza’s homes have been destroyed or damaged
- 80% of commercial facilities
- 88% of school buildings
- 17 out of 35 hospitals are partially functioning
- 130 ambulances
- 267 places of worship
Nowhere safe to go
The Israeli army published anonline map of the Gaza Strip on December 1, dividing the enclave into more than 600 numbered blocks. It asked Gaza’s civilians to identify the block corresponding with their area of residence and evacuate when ordered.
However, leaflets ordering evacuations have been inconsistent with online warnings, which has confused residents.
Furthermore, many Gaza residents have no reliable way to access the map with little access to electricity or the internet since the blockade of the 365sq-km (141sq-mile) strip has resulted in a collapse of telecommunications infrastructure.
Every hour in Gaza:
- 15 people are killed - six are children
- 35 people are injured
- 42 bombs are dropped*
- 12 buildings are destroyed
*Based on the first six days of the war,accordingto the Israeli army
Journalists killed
As of April 5, more than 100 journalists, mostly Palestinians, have been killed since the Israel-Gaza war began on October 7. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Federation of Journalists, 96 Palestinian, three Lebanese and four Israeli journalists have been killed.
Sixteen years of Israeli blockade
The Gaza Strip has a population of about 2.3 million people living in one of the most densely populated areas in the world. It is located between Israel and Egypt on the Mediterranean coast.
Since 2007, Israel has maintained strict control over Gaza's airspace and territorial waters and restricted the movement of goods and people in and out of Gaza.
Since Hamas's October 7 attacks in southern Israel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has threatened to turn Gaza into a “deserted island” and warned its residents to “leave now”.
How the Hamas attack unfolded
On the morning of October 7 about 6:30am (03:30 GMT), Hamas fired a huge barrage of rockets into southern Israel with sirens heard as far away as Tel Aviv and Beersheba.
The group said it launched 5,000 rockets in the initial barrage. Israel’s military said 2,500 rockets were fired.
About an hour later, fighters crossed into Israel in an unprecedented multipronged operation by land, air and sea. Most fighters entered through breaches in security barriers separating Gaza and Israel.
Hamas’ssurprise attack came after Israeli settlers had stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and after a record number of Palestinians had been killed by Israel at that point in 2023.
At 9:45am (06:45 GMT), blasts were heard in Gaza and at 10am (07:00 GMT), Israel’s military spokesperson said the air force was carrying out attacks in Gaza.
Gun battles continued between Israeli forces and Palestinian fighters in several areas of southern Israel.
Israeli air attacks continued late into the night as did rocket fire into southern Israel.
Gaza's densely populated neighbourhoods
The Gaza Strip comprises five governorates: North Gaza, Gaza City, Deir el-Balah, Khan Younis and Rafah.
North Gaza extends for 10km (6 miles) and shares the only crossing into Israel through Beit Hanoon, also known as the Erez crossing.
North Gaza is home to the Jabalia refugee camp, the largest in the Gaza Strip.
Gaza City is the largest and most populous city with more than 750,000 residents. Remal, Shujayea and Tal al-Hawa are among its most well-known neighbourhoods.
At the heart of the Remal neighbourhood is al-Shifa Hospital, the largest medical facility in the Gaza Strip.
Deir el-Balah is one of Gaza’s largest agricultural producers. It is also home to four refugee camps: Nuseirat, Bureij, Maghazi and Deir el-Balah.
Gaza’s only operating power plant is located along the district’s boundary with Gaza City.
Khan Younis is home to about 430,000 people. At its centre is the Khan Younis refugee camp, where about 90,000 people live.
Rafah is the southernmost district of Gaza with a population of about 275,000. Rafah is also the name of the crossing with Egypt that is located there.
Both Israel and Egypt have kept their borders largely shut and are responsible for further deteriorating the already weakened economic and humanitarian situation in Gaza.
