Islamic Relief condemns “abject failure” to stop the killing as death toll in Gaza passes “heartbreaking” 10,000 milestone
ALEXANDRIA, Va – Islamic Relief USA (IRUSA) has released the following statement:
The death toll in Gaza today passed 10,000 people since the outbreak of the conflict on October 7, including over 4,800 children.
The combined death toll in Israel and Gaza now exceeds 11,400, and Islamic Relief has condemned what it calls the “abject failure” of the international community to agree a ceasefire.
Many of the dead in Gaza perished in explosions and collapsed buildings due to airstrikes and artillery fire. Others died due to shrapnel wounds and burns. Still more have been left unrecognizable due to traumatic injuries.
At least 50 people are among the dead in Jabalia refugee camp after it was hit in a series of airstrikes last week; civilians were struck while queuing for bread near the Al-Sharq Bakery; and a convoy of ambulances with their patients was hit by an airstrike outside the Al Shifa hospital in Gaza City.
Over 26,000 have been wounded and around 1.5 million of Gaza’s 2.3 million population are now internally displaced within the territory. Reports say last night’s bombardment reached a high point.
An Islamic Relief spokesperson said: “This latest news that more than 10,000 Palestinians have now been killed in Gaza is heartbreaking. This grim landmark is an appalling indictment of the international community’s abject failure to stop the killing.”
“In recent days we have seen bombing of refugee camps, school shelters and ambulances carrying injured civilians. International laws are being trampled over, resulting in a humanitarian crisis that is overwhelming aid agencies. Enough is enough. This cannot be allowed to go on any longer. There must be a ceasefire to end the bloodshed.”
Al Shifa hospital, the largest in Gaza, is close to shutting down if it doesn’t get more fuel. Its solar panels are reported to be badly damaged, and its possible closure casts doubt on the future of around 40,000 people seeking refuge there as well as thousands of patients, with the city now encircled by Israeli forces.
The third floor of a children’s hospital in Gaza City has also been hit recently, with 16 out of 35 hospitals in Gaza now shut down because of damage, lack of medicine or fuel. In the absence of electricity, fuel is urgently needed for the medical services to continue in Gaza, but it is still barred from entering the territory.
Islamic Relief is deeply concerned for the safety of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Their safety is paramount and the military offensive has taken a heavy toll on civilians and the infrastructure they depend on to survive.
MEDIA CONTACT
Syed M. Hassan
mhassan@irusa.org or
(571) 421-7032 (CELL)
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Islamic Relief USA, based in Alexandria, Va., is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) humanitarian organization. Its mission is to provide relief and development in a dignified manner regardless of gender, race, or religion, and works to empower individuals in their communities and give them a voice in the world. Its programs benefit millions of people each year in more than 40 countries around the world, including in the United States.
Islamic Relief USA meets all of the Standards for Charity Accountability of the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a national charity monitoring group affiliated with the Better Business Bureau system. Islamic Relief USA is on the U.S. government’s Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) charity list, and it is also a signatory to the code of conduct of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.