Terrifying Statistics and an Urgent Call for International Justice
Issued by:
International Congress for Protecting the Rights and Freedom of Citizens (SHIELD) – Palestine Commission
Date: May 2025
This report documents the unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe endured by the Palestinian people in both the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, following the outbreak of the wide-scale Israeli aggression that began on October 7, 2023.
It is based on official reports, field statistics, eyewitness accounts, and data from international and human rights organizations, in addition to on-the-ground documentation by members of SHIELD present in the occupied Palestinian territories. The aim is to record the magnitude of destruction and the crimes committed against civilians.
This aggression has not been a mere military campaign, but rather has taken the shape of genocide, through the systematic use of bombing, siege, and starvation to dismantle Palestinian society and target its very existence.
Overall Statistics (As of May 2025)
Total number of martyrs: 53,644
Children: 17,800
Women: 12,400
Elderly: 3,853
Medical personnel: 1,411
Educational workers: 800
Civil defense members: 113
Humanitarian and international aid workers: Over 200
Number of missing persons: 11,200 (including 4,700 children)
Number of injured: 121,950 – the majority are women and children, with thousands in critical condition or left permanently disabled
Gaza Strip – Systematic Destruction and a Humanitarian Catastrophe
Child Victims
Children were directly targeted. Over 17,800 children were killed, many of them buried under rubble or struck in their homes and shelters. Thousands suffered severe injuries and disabilities, while tens of thousands face deep psychological trauma from losing family members.
Collapse of the Healthcare System
Gaza’s healthcare system has been virtually paralyzed, with over 90% of medical facilities out of service. At least 1,411 medical workers were killed, many while performing their humanitarian duties or in direct attacks on hospitals and ambulances.
Targeting of Aid Workers
More than 200 humanitarian workers were killed, including staff from UNRWA and World Central Kitchen. Aid centers and vehicles were deliberately targeted, forcing the suspension of life-saving operations in a region suffering from starvation and medical shortages.
Journalists and Media Workers
At least 222 journalists and media professionals were killed, some deliberately targeted while covering the conflict or even inside their homes. These attacks appear to be systematic efforts to silence the truth and prevent documentation of the crimes.
Infrastructure and Housing Destruction
Over 75% of Gaza’s housing was destroyed or rendered uninhabitable. More than 500 schools, 160 healthcare centers, dozens of mosques, churches, and universities were also targeted and damaged or destroyed.
Siege and Prevention of Aid
Gaza remains under a crippling blockade. Deaths from hunger and dehydration have been recorded. Starvation has been weaponized, especially in the northern areas, where access to food, clean water, and medicine has been deliberately blocked.
West Bank – Escalating Pattern of Daily Violations
Victim Statistics
Martyrs: 1,180 (including 150 children and 120 women)
Injured: Over 9,000 – mostly from live ammunition
Detainees: Around 8,500 – including hundreds of children and university students
Homes demolished: 640 – mostly in Jerusalem and Hebron
Settler attacks: 950 incidents – often under military protection
Violation Methods
Documented field executions during raids and at checkpoints
Administrative detentions without charges, affecting minors and activists
Mass raids on refugee camps and cities – particularly Jenin, Nablus, and Tulkarm
Deliberate targeting of journalists and medics
Aggressive settlement expansion, aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinian residents
Legal Framework – Classification Under International Law
The crimes committed constitute blatant violations of international humanitarian law and fall under the following categories:
Genocide: As defined by the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide
War Crimes: Including targeting civilians, bombing hospitals, and using starvation as a weapon
Crimes Against Humanity: Indiscriminate killings, forced displacement, and deliberate starvation
Violations of the Geneva Conventions: Particularly the Fourth Convention on the protection of civilians
Continuous disregard for UN Security Council and General Assembly resolutions
Recommendations to the International Community
SHIELD urgently calls for the following actions:
Immediate and comprehensive international investigation into the crimes committed
Activation of the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court concerning Palestine
Imposition of immediate sanctions on the Israeli occupying authorities
Unhindered entry of humanitarian aid and the lifting of the blockade
International protection for civilians, especially women and children
Launching of a global plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, under transparent and accountable UN supervision
Conclusion
The situation in Palestine is no longer a mere “conflict” — it has become a systematic, ongoing crime, carried out with tools of genocide and total destruction, amidst global silence that can only be interpreted as complicity disguised as neutrality.
The continued lack of accountability entrenches a culture of impunity and paves the way for further atrocities against a people deprived of their most basic rights to life, safety, and dignity.
The blood of children under the rubble will not be forgotten. History will not forgive.
Issued by:
International Congress for Protecting the Rights and Freedom of Citizens (SHIELD) – Palestine Commission
Date: May 2025
