Over 70 Children Killed in Gaza in 2025 as the Death Toll Surpasses 46,000 with Over Half Deaths of Women and Children
Vatican News released that the death toll has surpassed 46,000 in the Palestinian territory of the Gaza strip.
Palestinian officials released that 70 people have been killed in the last 24 hours alone. According to the Ministry of Health, at least 46,006 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since the war began on October 7, 2023, 15 months ago. Additionally, the number of wounded has risen to 109,378.
The United Nations Children's Fund UNICEF reported that at least 74 children were among those killed in the first week of the year.
On Dec. 21, Pope Francis condemned attacks on Gaza saying “This is not war. This is cruelty” during Christmas Message to the Roman Curia. (SEE: https://www.catholicnewsworld.com/2024/12/pope-francis-condemns-attacks-on-gaza.html )“It’s a slow death, one way or another,” Anton Asfar, secretary general of Caritas Jerusalem, told OSV News Jan. 8.
“We are in a terrible situation now in Gaza, whether in the north or in the south. Less and less food is coming in and (there are) many diseased people; there are a lot of viruses spreading,” he said.
Israeli forces raided the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza Dec. 28, the last functioning hospital in the area, forcing staff and patients to evacuate outside in the cold.
The World Health Organization, or WHO, which described Israel’s actions as part of a “systematic dismantling of the health system” that “puts the lives of the 75,000 Palestinians remaining in the area at risk.”
WHO expressed concern for “the movement and treatment” of patients evacuated from the hospital, especially those in critical condition.
Only 16 of Gaza Strip’s 36 hospitals remain partially operational, their collective capacity merely above 1,800 beds, which is “entirely insufficient for the overwhelming medical needs,” the organization said.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, WHOs representative for the West Bank and Gaza, in a Security Council meeting Jan. 3, painted a grim picture of the situation, emphasizing that over 25% of the 105,000 injured civilians now face life-changing injuries.
“At the current rate, it would take five to 10 years to evacuate all these critically ill patients,” Peeperkorn warned, noting that over 12,000 people remain on waiting lists for urgent treatment abroad.
WHO also said it was “deeply concerned” for the well-being of the hospital’s director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, who was detained by Israeli forces following the raid.
Anton Asfar said that Caritas has been unable to reopen their Medical Center in the Al-Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza “given the highly turbulent situation there.”
Asfar also expressed concerns on the recent attack on northern Gaza hospital, especially children and elderly patients who have no choice but to go south in search of aid.
“Primary health care services are the first defense line for health. But many times, our doctors refer people to the secondary health (services) which are hospitals,” he said.
“Without the presence of secondary health services, it’s a total collapse for the health services all over the Gaza Strip. And the shortage of medicine and medical supplies are really great these days. There’s not much coming, which is really terrible. We are in a terrible situation now in Gaza, whether in the North or in the South,” Asfar told OSV News.
Despite the challenges, particularly the difficulty in transporting much needed food and medicine to Gaza, Asfar said that the doctors, nurses and staff of Caritas Jerusalem “are doing their best with the resources that they have” and also providing “psychosocial support for children and women.”
The limited resources and medical supplies, he added, have forced staff members to find other ways to provide relief.
Sources: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2025-01/gaza-death-toll-46-000-israel-palestine-war-hamas-middle-east.html
Image from the Catholic Church in Gaza with the Parish Priest praying with some of the children from their FB Page
OSV News reports that northern Gaza Strip’s last major hospital lying in ruins following a raid by Israeli forces, the director of Caritas Jerusalem said that with limited medical resources and basic supplies, Palestinians in the ravaged territory are running out of time.
“We are in a terrible situation now in Gaza, whether in the north or in the south. Less and less food is coming in and (there are) many diseased people; there are a lot of viruses spreading,” he said.
Israeli forces raided the Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza Dec. 28, the last functioning hospital in the area, forcing staff and patients to evacuate outside in the cold.
The World Health Organization, or WHO, which described Israel’s actions as part of a “systematic dismantling of the health system” that “puts the lives of the 75,000 Palestinians remaining in the area at risk.”
WHO expressed concern for “the movement and treatment” of patients evacuated from the hospital, especially those in critical condition.
Only 16 of Gaza Strip’s 36 hospitals remain partially operational, their collective capacity merely above 1,800 beds, which is “entirely insufficient for the overwhelming medical needs,” the organization said.
Dr. Rik Peeperkorn, WHOs representative for the West Bank and Gaza, in a Security Council meeting Jan. 3, painted a grim picture of the situation, emphasizing that over 25% of the 105,000 injured civilians now face life-changing injuries.
“At the current rate, it would take five to 10 years to evacuate all these critically ill patients,” Peeperkorn warned, noting that over 12,000 people remain on waiting lists for urgent treatment abroad.
WHO also said it was “deeply concerned” for the well-being of the hospital’s director, Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, who was detained by Israeli forces following the raid.
Anton Asfar said that Caritas has been unable to reopen their Medical Center in the Al-Shati refugee camp in northern Gaza “given the highly turbulent situation there.”
Asfar also expressed concerns on the recent attack on northern Gaza hospital, especially children and elderly patients who have no choice but to go south in search of aid.
“Primary health care services are the first defense line for health. But many times, our doctors refer people to the secondary health (services) which are hospitals,” he said.
“Without the presence of secondary health services, it’s a total collapse for the health services all over the Gaza Strip. And the shortage of medicine and medical supplies are really great these days. There’s not much coming, which is really terrible. We are in a terrible situation now in Gaza, whether in the North or in the South,” Asfar told OSV News.
Despite the challenges, particularly the difficulty in transporting much needed food and medicine to Gaza, Asfar said that the doctors, nurses and staff of Caritas Jerusalem “are doing their best with the resources that they have” and also providing “psychosocial support for children and women.”
The limited resources and medical supplies, he added, have forced staff members to find other ways to provide relief.
Sources: https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2025-01/gaza-death-toll-46-000-israel-palestine-war-hamas-middle-east.html
Image from the Catholic Church in Gaza with the Parish Priest praying with some of the children from their FB Page
https://www.osvnews.com/2025/01/09/as-last-major-hospital-lies-in-ruins-people-of-gaza-dying-slow-death-caritas-rep-says/
https://www.facebook.com/holyfamilychurchgaza
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