Gaza death toll nears 54,000 amid continued Israeli massacres

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Al Mayadeen + Agencies
26 May 2025 20:08

Since March 18, 2025, Israeli occupation forces have killed 3,822 Palestinians.

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A man sits next to the shrouded bodies of people killed in an Israeli strike, inside an ambulance at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on May 26, 2025 (AFP)

Hospitals across the Gaza Strip received 38 martyrs and 169 injuries in 24 hours, including one body retrieved from beneath the rubble, the Ministry of Health in the besieged enclave reported on Monday.

The Ministry noted that these figures exclude hospitals in the northern Gaza governorate due to the inability to access the area. Many victims remain trapped under debris and on the streets, where ambulance and civil defense teams cannot reach them due to continued Israeli aggression.

As of May 26, the death toll from the Israeli war on Gaza that began on October 7, 2023, has reached 53,977 martyrs, with 122,966 injuries, the Ministry confirmed. Since March 18, 2025, alone, 3,822 martyrs and 10,925 injuries have been recorded.

Israeli airstrikes target displaced civilians

Earlier on Monday, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported that an Israeli airstrike targeted a tent sheltering displaced persons in the al-Masha’ala area of Deir al-Balah, killing one and injuring several others.

Additional Israeli strikes targeted a house near Shafout Restaurant in the al-Zaytoun neighborhood southeast of Gaza City, and military vehicles opened fire near the al-Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza.

Heavy artillery shelling was also reported in the southern areas of Khan Younis.

Since dawn Monday, 84 martyrs have been recorded in various Israeli airstrikes across Gaza. Among them were four martyrs and a critically wounded child targeted on al-Ashqar Street in northwestern Gaza.

Death toll of al-Jarjawi school massacre rises to 36

Our correspondent mentioned that the death toll from the Israeli massacre at al-Jarjawi School in the al-Daraj neighborhood of Gaza City has risen to 36.

According to Al Mayadeen's correspondent, Israeli forces used bunker-busting guided missiles, which penetrated the upper floors of the school and struck those taking shelter in the lower levels.

Many of the victims were burned beyond recognition, making identification difficult for the Ministry of Health.

In addition to the massacre at al-Jarjawi School, an Israeli airstrike killed six civilians in a house east of Jabalia, while another bombing near al-Shuja’iyya School in the al-Tuffah neighborhood left three martyrs and multiple injuries. One more person was killed in a separate strike on Khan Younis.

Psychological warfare

In addition, Israeli forces dropped leaflets over the al-Shati refugee camp in western Gaza bearing the message, “The war is nearing its end.” Al Mayadeen’s correspondent suggested the leaflets were part of psychological warfare tactics aimed at sowing distrust between the Palestinian public and the Resistance, as well as extracting intelligence.

Majority of medical equipment runs out in Gaza

In a related context, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the majority of supplies of medical equipment have run out in Gaza.

According to the agency, 42% of essential medicines, including painkillers, are out of stock, while nearly 64% of medical equipment has run out.

"We are at stock zero of close to 64% of medical equipment and stock zero of 43% of essential medicines and 42% of vaccines," said Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, speaking from Geneva.

She emphasized the dire situation, stating, “Can you imagine a surgeon fixing a broken bone with no anaesthesia? IV fluids, needles, bandages—they do not exist in the quantities required.”

Balkhy also noted critical shortages in antibiotics, chronic disease medications, and basic healthcare supplies.

While "Israel" allowed 100 aid trucks carrying flour, baby food, and some medical supplies into Gaza on May 21, none of the shipments belonged to the WHO, which currently has 51 aid trucks waiting for clearance at the border.

WHO rejects US-backed Gaza aid plan

Amid the growing Gaza healthcare crisis, the WHO confirmed that it will not participate in the US-backed aid plan proposed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

The United Nations has warned that the GHF is not a neutral body and its actions could exacerbate displacement and harm to civilians.

GHF claims its plan would prevent the diversion of aid to Hamas or criminal groups, but UN officials and human rights organizations have raised concerns about its legitimacy and potential consequences.

"Israel" had halted all aid deliveries on March 2, citing accusations, denied by Hamas, that Palestinian Resistance factions were intercepting humanitarian supplies.