DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000, local health officials said Thursday.
The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it has said that more than half of the fatalities are women and children. The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence.
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Areej al Qadi shows shows a picture of her daughter Laila at her tent in a refugee camp in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Areej al Qadi, right, shows a picture of one of her three dead children as her husband Mahmoud bin Hassan, left, holds a fourth surviving child at their tent in a refugee camp in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Areej al Qadi shows dress of her daughter Laila at her tent in a refugee camp in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
The graves of three children from the same family killed during an Israeli army strike are covered during their burial in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
The cross atop of Our Lady of Hadath Church lights up as smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
A woman weeps during the funeral of the victims of an Israeli army airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Mahmoud bin Hassan mourns over the bodies his three children before their funeral in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
The bodies of three children are carried for burial in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Mahmoud bin Hassan shows the spot where his three children were killed during an Israeli strike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
A man kisses the body one of three children as they are carried for burial in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Areej al Qadi weeps of one of her children's clothes after the funeral of her three children in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinians queue for food in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
A Palestinian woman queues for food in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinians queue for food in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
A Palestinian little girl queues for food in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinians queue for food in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
The Health Ministry said 44,056 people have been killed and 104,268 wounded since the start of the war. It has said the real toll is higher because thousands of bodies are buried under rubble or in areas that medics cannot access.
The war began when Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250. Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Most of the rest were released during a cease-fire last year.
In Lebanon, the death toll from Israeli strikes and combat has surpassed 3,580 people, with more than 15,000 wounded, according to Lebanon’s Health Ministry. At least 51 people were killed Thursday in Israeli strikes on towns and villages across Lebanon.
The Israeli offensive in Gaza has caused heavy destruction across wide areas of the coastal territory, leading many to wonder when or how it will ever be rebuilt. Around 90% of the population of 2.3 million people have been displaced, often multiple times, and hundreds of thousands are living in squalid tent camps with little food, water or basic services.
Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames their deaths on Hamas because the militants operate in residential areas, where they have built tunnels, rocket launchers and other military infrastructure.
Palestinian officials and rights groups accuse Israeli forces of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and the United Nations’ top court is considering allegations of genocide brought by South Africa. The Israeli government adamantly denies the allegations, accusing critics of being biased against it.
In recent weeks, the amount of humanitarian aid entering Gaza has plummeted, prompting the United States to threaten to reduce its military support for Israel before backing down, citing limited progress. Experts have warned that isolated, war-ravaged northern Gaza could already be experiencing famine.
The United States, Egypt and Qatar spent months trying to broker a cease-fire agreement in which Hamas would release the remaining hostages in exchange for an end to the war. Those talks ground to a halt over the summer, with Israel and Hamas each accusing the other of making unacceptable demands.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to end the wars in the Middle East without saying how. His previous administration gave unprecedented support to Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hard-line policies toward the Palestinians.
Khaled reported from Cairo.
Find more of AP’s war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war
Areej al Qadi shows shows a picture of her daughter Laila at her tent in a refugee camp in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Areej al Qadi, right, shows a picture of one of her three dead children as her husband Mahmoud bin Hassan, left, holds a fourth surviving child at their tent in a refugee camp in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Areej al Qadi shows dress of her daughter Laila at her tent in a refugee camp in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
The graves of three children from the same family killed during an Israeli army strike are covered during their burial in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
The cross atop of Our Lady of Hadath Church lights up as smoke rises after an Israeli airstrike on Dahiyeh, in the southern suburb of Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)
A woman weeps during the funeral of the victims of an Israeli army airstrike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Mahmoud bin Hassan mourns over the bodies his three children before their funeral in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
The bodies of three children are carried for burial in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Mahmoud bin Hassan shows the spot where his three children were killed during an Israeli strike in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
A man kisses the body one of three children as they are carried for burial in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Areej al Qadi weeps of one of her children's clothes after the funeral of her three children in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday Nov. 21, 2024. Seven-year-old Hamza, his five-year-old brother Abdelaziz, and his four-year-old sister Laila Hassan were among 9 people killed by an Israeli strike in Khan Younis on Wednesday. Palestinian health officials say the death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinians queue for food in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
A Palestinian woman queues for food in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinians queue for food in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
A Palestinian little girl queues for food in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Palestinians queue for food in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Monday, Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
