Gaza/International Desk: A devastating new study has revealed that the death toll in Gaza has reached at least 680,000 people since October 7, 2023, with nearly 380,000 infants under the age of five among the victims. The findings, released on September 3, 2025, by researchers Dr. Gideon Polya and Professor Richard Hil, have sent shockwaves through the global community, intensifying calls for urgent international action.
The researchers stressed that their figures draw on all available data and include not only those killed in Israeli bombardments but also indirect deaths caused by starvation, preventable diseases, lack of medical care, and the collapse of basic infrastructure.
“This is not just a war zone casualty count. This is a mass humanitarian collapse,” Dr. Polya said. “Children are dying in staggering numbers, not only from bombs but from hunger, dehydration, and treatable illnesses.”
International Reactions
The United Nations described the figures as “unprecedented in modern conflict” and reiterated its demand for an immediate ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access. “The scale of death and suffering in Gaza cannot be justified under any circumstances,” a UN spokesperson said.
Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, said the numbers amounted to evidence of genocide and state-sponsored crimes against humanity. “Starvation and the deliberate denial of medical care are being used as weapons of war. This is collective punishment on a historic scale,” Amnesty stated.
Governments across the Arab world have condemned Israel, with Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey urging the International Criminal Court (ICC) to expedite its investigations into alleged war crimes. Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said the report was “further proof that Israel has crossed every red line of human conscience.”
Mounting Pressure on World Powers
The study has put renewed pressure on the United States and European powers, which continue to face criticism for supplying weapons and diplomatic cover to Israel. Protest movements in London, Paris, Washington, and Berlin have already begun citing the 680,000 death toll in mass demonstrations.
“Every bomb dropped, every aid convoy blocked, has contributed to this number,” said Richard Hil, co-author of the study. “The responsibility is not Israel’s alone — it extends to those who enabled this devastation.”
A Generation Lost
Beyond the statistics lies a deeper tragedy: the decimation of Gaza’s younger generation. UNICEF officials say nearly half of the territory’s children are suffering from acute trauma, and tens of thousands have been left orphaned. With 380,000 children under five already dead, aid workers warn that an entire generation faces erasure.
“The world is watching the systematic destruction of a people,” said a UN relief coordinator. “History will remember whether the global community acted — or stayed silent.”
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