Israel may turn blind eye to global reports of starvation and colossal loss of lives and livelihood in Gaza, but now one of its own leading rights groups, B'Tselem -- Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories -- has described the situation in the Gaza Strip as a human catastrophe marked by relentless human suffering and loss of life on an unimaginable scale.

Israel's actions are characterized as a genocidal assault against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. In its latest report, B'Tselem provide grim details. Let's take a look:

  • Mass Casualties: As of mid-July 2025, approximately 58,026 people have been killed as a direct result of Israel's military assault, with the overwhelming majority being civilians not participating in hostilities. The number of wounded is estimated at approximately 138,520. These figures are widely considered reliable but likely an underestimation due to difficulties in recovery and reporting.

For instance, life expectancy for men in Gaza dropped by 51.6% (to 40.5 years) and for women by 38.6% (to 47.5 years) during the first 12 months of the assault. Since the ceasefire was broken in March 2025, more than 7,450 people have been killed and over 26,000 wounded.

  • Open-Fire Policy and Kill Zones: Israel's open-fire policy systematically violates international law principles like distinction and proportionality, permitting unprecedented harm to civilians. "Kill zones" have been established in Gaza where permission was given to open fire at anyone seen within them, sometimes with arbitrary boundaries unclear even to soldiers.

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  • Humanitarian Zones and Forced Displacement: Approximately 1.9 million Palestinians, about 90% of Gaza's population, have been forcibly displaced at least once since October 2023. These displaced persons, many of whom are Nakba refugees or their descendants, have become refugees multiple times. Evacuation orders were often unclear or misleading, and "safe corridors" and "humanitarian zones" themselves were repeatedly bombed. For example, the al-Mawasi "humanitarian zone" was bombed 97 times between May 2024 and January 2025. The Netzarim Corridor, a buffer zone, effectively severs northern Gaza from the south and has been designated a kill zone to prevent return.
  • Starvation: Israel has used starvation as a method of warfare by imposing a complete blockade and systematically destroying food infrastructure. As of May 2025, approximately 1.95 million people (93% of Gaza's population) were suffering from severe food insecurity, with 244,000 experiencing "catastrophic hunger". Routine killings have occurred at "aid distribution centers," which are described as "death traps".
  • Destruction of Infrastructure: Over 60% of Gaza's electricity distribution network has been damaged or destroyed, and 84% of water facilities have been destroyed, leading to widespread use of contaminated water and disease spread. All hospitals are either destroyed or only partially functioning, facing critical shortages of staff, fuel, and equipment.
  • Destruction of Housing: Approximately 92% of all residential buildings and about 69% of all structures in the Gaza Strip have been destroyed or severely damaged, with entire neighborhoods and cities wiped off the map. Systematic demolition and torching of homes are widespread.

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  • Destruction of Economy: Nearly four out of five public, commercial, and industrial businesses have been damaged or destroyed, leading to a near-total collapse of economic activity. The unemployment rate averaged 79.7% between October 2023 and September 2024, pushing the vast majority of the population into poverty and setting economic development back to 1955 levels.
  • Assault on Healthcare System: The medical infrastructure has been systematically attacked, with only 17 out of 36 hospitals partially functioning as of June 2025. Critical medical supplies are blocked or delayed. Medical staff and emergency responders have been killed, arrested, and abused, with approximately 2.5% of medical personnel killed by January 2025. Many chronic illness patients die due to lack of treatment and inability to leave Gaza.
  • Anarchy: The systematic targeting of public order enforcement agencies has led to the spread of anarchy, mob justice, violent clashes over resources, and the rise of armed criminal gangs.
  • Breakdown of families: The assault has devastated family units, with approximately 14,000 women widowed and 40,000 children losing one or both parents, creating the largest orphan crisis in modern history. Families are separated, and thousands are missing, presumed dead under rubble. Mourning rituals are disrupted due to mass deaths, unrecovered bodies, and desecration of remains.
  • Denial of Education: Around 90% of all schools have been damaged or destroyed, leaving approximately 658,000 school-aged children without education for over 18 months.
  • Curbs on Press Coverage: Israel has largely barred journalists from entering Gaza and systematically targeted local journalists, with approximately 160 killed between October 2023 and January 2025, making it the deadliest conflict for journalists in three decades.
  • Destruction of Historical/Religious Heritage: Approximately 206 archaeological and historical sites, libraries, museums, archives, theaters, and ancient mosques and churches have been damaged or destroyed.
  • Dehumanization: According to the report, Israel's policy since October 2023 cannot be justified as merely targeting Hamas and leads to the unequivocal conclusion that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. This is supported by statements from senior Israeli politicians and military commanders expressing genocidal intent and portraying Palestinians as "human animals" or an "existential threat". The Israeli media has also played a significant role in dehumanization and silencing dissenting voices, normalizing the view that "there are no innocents in Gaza". This normalization extends to the public, with polls indicating support for forced transfer of Gazans.

The report concludes that Israel's actions demonstrate an intent to irreversibly destroy Palestinian life in the Gaza Strip, and warns of the clear and imminent danger that this genocide will not remain confined to Gaza but expand to other areas under Israeli control.

Netanyahu Government Denies Report

The Israeli government strongly rejected the report, dismissing the claims as "politically motivated," "obscene," and "baseless."

Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told media persons, "We have free speech in this country but we strongly reject this claim," emphasizing that Israel has consistently allowed aid into Gaza.

The Israeli foreign ministry echoed this stance, asserting that Israel's military operations only target Hamas, not civilians. They further stated that Israel takes "extensive measures" to avoid harming civilians while concurrently facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid.

The Israeli military also called the allegations "entirely unfounded." The military said, "The IDF is allowing the entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip in line with the Government's directives, and allows international organizations to carry out its distribution."