According to the Associated Press, the Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government, reports that over 55,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023. Over half of them are said to be women and children — though, as the AP notes, none of these figures are independently verifiable. In addition to the rising death toll, the region is facing famine, malnutrition — particularly among children — disease, and a weakened healthcare system. Israel has denied that people are starving in Gaza and has blamed civilian deaths on Hamas. And last month, they announced plans to take military control of Gaza City in what has been called a “major escalation” of the conflict.