Palestinian death toll in Israeli genocide in Gaza surpasses 72,000

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 72,027, with 171,651 others wounded since Oct. 7, 2023, Gaza-based health authorities said on Saturday, reported Xinhua.

In a press statement, the authorities said that 174 deaths from Jan. 30 to Feb. 6 were added to the official count, following approval by the relevant government committee.

576 Palestinians have been killed and 1,543 others wounded since a ceasefire in Gaza came into effect on Oct. 10, it added.

In a separate statement, the health authorities said that the remaining functioning hospitals in the Gaza Strip, struggling to continue providing services, have become mere waiting rooms for thousands of patients, adding that many of the wounded face an uncertain fate.

The war has made sustaining healthcare a daily struggle, severely hindering recovery and the revival of specialized medical services, the authorities said.

The statement warned that basic painkillers have become a rare luxury due to shortages. It also said that 46 percent of essential medicines, 66 percent of medical supplies and 84 percent of laboratory and blood bank materials are completely out of stock.

It added that cancer treatment, hematology, surgery, intensive care and primary healthcare are among the hardest hit, with the limited supplies available falling far short of demand.