Casualties of the Israel–Hamas war

The casualties of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war include combatants and civilians of Israel, Palestine, and numerous other nations. The majority of fatalities have occurred in the Gaza Strip or in Israeli communities near the strip, but casualties have also occurred in other parts of Israel, the West Bank, southern Lebanon, and Syria. Casualties also include more than 200 Israelis and others kidnapped by Palestinian militants.

Israeli

Civilians and soldiers

Aftermath of the attack on Be'eri

See also: List of massacres during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war

Around 1,400 Israelis and foreigners have been killed since 7 October, including 308 IDF soldiers, 10 Shin Bet agents and 58 police officers and at least 5,132 wounded. The casualties also include approximately 70 dead or missing Arab-Israeli citizens, many of whom are Negev Bedouin.

On 7 October there were massacres at 10+ different kibbutzim where civilians resided and at an outdoor dance music festival. Over 260 attendees were killed at the psychedelic trance open-air "Supernova Sukkot Gathering" music festival near the Re'im kibbutz. It became the deadliest concert attack ever and the worst Israeli civilian massacre in its history. Over 100 civilians were killed in the Be'eri massacre, including children. Many of the kibbutz residents among the dead or missing were peace activists. At least 50–100 people have been reported killed in the Kfar Aza massacre, with the total death toll unknown. Filmmaker Yahav Winner was killed in Kfar Aza. Many civilians were also killed in the Nahal Oz massacre. Nine people were fatally shot at a bus shelter in Sderot. At least four people were reported killed in Kuseife. At least 400 casualties were reported in Ashkelon, while 280 others were reported in Beer Sheva, 60 of whom were in serious condition. In the north, injuries from rocket attacks were reported in Tel Aviv.

Former Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C. striker Lior Asulin was among those killed in the Re'im music festival massacre. The head of the Sha'ar HaNegev Regional Council, Ofir Libstein, was killed in an exchange of fire with the militants. The police commander of Rahat, Jayar Davidov, was also killed. Izhar Peled, a police officer, was killed in Kfar Aza. The IDF confirmed that 258 of its soldiers had been killed. Among their confirmed dead were Colonel Yonatan Steinberg, the commander of the Nahal Brigade, who was killed near Kerem Shalom; Colonel Roi Levy, commander of the Multidimensional "Ghost" unit, who was killed near Kibbutz Re'im; and Lieutenant Colonel Eli Ginsberg, commander of the LOTAR Counter-terrorism Unit School. The Druze deputy commander of the 300th "Baram" Regional Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Alim Abdallah, was killed in action along with two other soldiers while responding to an infiltration from southern Lebanon on 9 October.

Journalists in Israel

Four journalists in Israel were killed, according to the Committee to Project Journalists.

Migrant workers

At least 50 migrant workers were killed during Hamas' attack on 7 October and around 100,000 migrant workers are trapped in Israel during the conflict due to debt from huge fees they had to pay to recruitment agencies to get jobs.

Palestinian

Gaza Strip

Man with body bags in Jabalia, Gaza Strip

The Gaza Strip suffered heavy civilian casualties from Israeli bombardment. Since the war began, 9,060 Palestinians (including 3,700 children) have been killed, 20,000 injured, and 1,600 missing are under rubble, totaling over 30,000, which is about 1.3% of Gaza's 2.3 million people. Within four weeks, the war became the bloodiest ever fought in Gaza's history, eclipsing the combined death toll of the First Intifada, Second Intifada, Operation Cast Lead, and Operation Protective Edge.

There were reports of mass casualties resulting from an Israeli airstrike on the Jabalia Camp, where at least 50 people were killed. An Israeli airstrike at a United Nations school in the al-Maghazi refugee camp killed at least six people. Significant civilian casualties were reported following the Al-Ahli Arab Hospital explosion. Other mass casualty strikes included the Church of Saint Porphyrius airstrike and the al-Shati refugee camp airstrike.

On 13 October, the Palestinian Ministry of Health noted 20 surnames had been removed from Gaza's civil registry, meaning every single person in that entire family had been killed. On 16 October, the UNRWA stated there were so many deaths in Gaza that there were no longer enough body bags. Because the morgues were so overcrowded, bodies were contained in ice cream trucks.

On 25 October, Qatar's Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani noted the death toll of children in Gaza had already exceeded the total number killed in the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine's total civilian death toll was 9,614 as of 10 September 2023, including around 600 children. In a statement, UNICEF regional director Adele Khodr stated Gaza's child death toll was a "growing stain on our collective conscience". On October 28, the number of families who had been killed entirely had risen to 825. On 30 October, Save the Children reported more children had died in three weeks in Gaza than in the entire sum of conflicts around the world in the past four years. UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini briefed the UN Security Council, sharing the analysis by Save the Children.

On 3 November, at least 10 cemetery workers were killed by an Israeli airstrike while working at a graveyard in Beit Lahia. On 4 November, an unnamed Israeli official claimed that around 20,000 people had been killed in Gaza, "most of them terrorists." On 11 November, Monir al-Bashr, the direct of the health ministry in Gaza, stated graves were being dug by hand.

West Bank

In the West Bank, related violence during the conflict killed 61 Palestinians and wounded at least 300. Several thousand Gazan workers were in Israel at the time when the conflict started. As of 16 October some of them were detained at a "holding facility" in the West Bank while others sought refuge in the Palestinian communities of the West Bank. The Minister of Labour for the Palestinian Authority estimated 4,500 workers are unaccounted for while Israeli media outlet N12 reported 4,000 Gazans were in Israeli holding facilities. The Palestinian Prisoners Society said that Israeli forces had arrested over 1,450 West Bank Palestinians since 7 October. On 29 October, thirty Israeli human rights organizations addressed settler violence in the West Bank, asking the international community to "act urgently" to end it. On 30 October, the German government called on Israel to protect Palestinians in the West Bank. On 31 October, EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell "firmly condemned" settler attacks in the West Bank. Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated the United States was "deeply concerned," and condemned the killings of Palestinians in the West Bank.

Death toll

On 25 October, US President Joe Biden stated he had "no confidence" in the death totals reported by the Gaza Health Ministry. In response, Human Rights Watch stated that after three decades working in Gaza and conducting its own investigation, it considers Gaza Health Ministry's totals to be reliable. Matthew Miller made a similar claim to Biden, despite the fact that the US Department of State cites the Gaza Health Ministry's death tolls in its own internal reports. On 26 October, the Gaza Health Ministry responded by releasing a 212-page document of 6,747 individual names and ID numbers, as well as 281 unidentified fatalities. The US State Department Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs told a Congressional hearing on 9 November that the death toll was "very high, frankly, and it could be that they're even higher than are being cited."

Every death registered in Gaza is the result of a verified change in the population registry approved by the Government of Israel. The Israeli government notes that its "Population Registry Office works to update population registry files located on the Israeli side to match the files that are held" in the West Bank and Gaza. On 26 October, the United Nations humanitarian office added they use the Gaza Ministry of Health's death totals because they are "clearly sourced". Yara Asi, a professor at the University of Central Florida, called Biden's statement "appalling."

Journalists in Gaza

Main article: Violence against journalists in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war

See also: List of journalists killed in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war

Numerous Palestinian journalists in Gaza were killed by Israeli attacks while in the line of duty. Ibrahim Mohammad Lafi, a photographer for Ain Media, was fatally shot during the attack on the Erez crossing on 7 October, while Mohammad Jarghoun, a reporter with Smart Media, was killed east of Rafah on the same day. Freelance journalist Mohammad el-Salhi was also shot dead on the border east of Bureij refugee camp on 7 October. On 9 October, Saeed al-Taweel, editor-in-chief of Al-Khamsa News website, Mohammed Subh and Hisham Alnwajha were killed by an airstrike while filming an anticipated attack in Gaza City.

On 10 October, two additional journalists were reported missing, and another was injured by shrapnel. The homes of two journalists were destroyed by shelling, and the offices of four media outlets were destroyed by airstrikes. On 22 October, Rushdi Sarraj was killed by an Israeli airstrike on his home. On 24 October, reporter Wael Al-Dahdouh lost his entire family due to an Israeli airstrike. On 27 October, the IDF told Reuters and Agence France Presse it would not guarantee their journalists' safety in Gaza. On 30 October, Al Jazeera correspondent Youmna El-Sayed received a threat from Israeli forces, leading the spokesperson for the UN-Secretary General to remark on the "immense courage" of journalists in Gaza. On 2 November, Mohammed Abu Hatab and 10 members of his family were killed by an Israeli airstrike.

On 19 October, the Committee to Protect Journalists stated 21 journalists were confirmed dead, eight were injured, and three were missing or detained. A 29 October report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said that Israel had targeted journalists who were clearly identifiable as press, in two 13 October missile strikes that killed a reporter and injured four. On 31 October, RSF said that 34 journalists have been killed in the conflict, including 12 "in connection with their work", ten of whom were killed in Israel's attack on Gaza; they described the first two weeks of the conflict as the deadliest start of a war of the 21st century for journalists. On 7 November, an Israeli airstrike killed journalist Mohammad Abu Hasira and 42 of his family members.

Investigations

On 1 November, Reporters Without Borders asked the International Criminal Court to begin a priority war crimes investigation into the killing of nine journalists. RSF noted 41 journalists had been killed during the first month of the conflict, stating multiple journalists had been killed by Israel in their homes. Israel maintains records of the place and residence of every person in Gaza. RSF stated Israel had used targeted strikes to kill journalists in Gaza.

On 9 November, Israel alleged Reuters and three other news groups had prior knowledge of the 7 October attack. Reuters denied this was true. Israeli MK Danny Danon stated that the photojournalists charged with prior knowledge would be "eliminated." The New York Times Company responded to the allegations saying they were "untrue and outrageous," and "reckless to make such allegations, putting our journalists on the ground in Israel and Gaza at risk." Israel's allegations stemmed from a claim by the pro-Israeli organization HonestReporting. In an interview, Gil Hoffman, the executive director of HonestReporting, admitted the group had no evidence to back up its claims, and that they were satisfied with journalists' explanations that they did not know about the attacks beforehand. Hoffman stated, "We don't claim to be a news organization."

Health and aid workers

Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance hit by an Israeli missile in Khan Yunis

On 11 October, UNRWA reported that nine of their workers were killed in an Israeli airstrike, and that its headquarters were being targeted by Israel. It said a school sheltering more than 225 people was struck. 11 members of UNRWA and five members of the Red Cross and Red Crescent were killed in Gaza since the start of the fighting. MSF said it had counted 16 medical personnel killed since 7 October. MSF said a nurse and an ambulance driver were killed, and several others injured in Israeli strikes on the Nasser hospital in Khan Yunis and the Indonesia Hospital in Gaza City. A paramedic was reported to be in critical condition. The Indonesian Medical Emergency Rescue Committee (MER-C) confirmed a staff member was killed near an operational MER-C vehicle. On 22 October, UNRWA stated 29 staff members had been killed in Gaza. On 30 October, the Palestinian Ministry of Health stated 120 medical staff had been killed in Gaza. On 10 November, the UN reported more than 100 employees had been killed by Israel. On 11 November, UNRWA rejected Israel's claims that UN workers were undercover Hamas agents.

Lebanon

During clashes along the Israel–Lebanon border, an Israeli artillery strike on 13 October killed Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah and injured six other journalists from Reuters, Agence France-Presse and Al Jazeera. In addition, between 24 and 26 people have been killed in Lebanon.

Foreign and dual-national casualties

Foreign casualties include both those killed by Palestinian militants inside Israel, as well as those killed by the IDF inside Gaza.

As of 11 October, the The Washington Post reported that persons from 24 countries had been killed or went missing during the conflict.

Foreign casualties in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war

Country	Deaths	Kidnapped	Missing	Ref.
France	40	Unknown	8
Thailand	33	23	0
United States	33	Unknown	13
Ukraine	24	Unknown	8
Russia	23	2	4
Nepal	10	17	1
Argentina	9	Unknown	20
Portugal	9	0	3
Ethiopia	7	0	0
Canada	6	Unknown	2
United Kingdom	6	Unknown	10
Romania	5	1	2
Chile	5	0	0
Austria	4	Unknown	1
China	4	0	2
Philippines	4	Unknown	2
Belarus	3	Unknown	1
Brazil	3	Unknown	0
Turkey	3	Unknown	Unknown
Colombia	2	Unknown	Unknown
Paraguay	2	Unknown	2
Peru	2	Unknown	5
South Africa	2	Unknown	Unknown
Spain	2	0	0
Australia	1	Unknown	Unknown
Azerbaijan	1	Unknown	Unknown
Cambodia	1	0	0
Estonia	1	0	0
Germany	1	5	Unknown
Honduras	1	Unknown	Unknown
Ireland	1	Unknown	Unknown
Italy	1	Unknown	2
Kazakhstan	1	0	0
Latvia	1	0	0
Lithuania	1	0	0
Sri Lanka	2	2	2
Switzerland	1	Unknown	Unknown
Denmark	0	1	0
Mexico	0	2	0
Serbia	0	1	0
Tanzania	0	2	2
Poland	0	1	0

The Nepali ambassador to Israel, Kanta Rijal, said at least seven of its nationals in the country were injured in the attack, and that they along with ten others were held captive by Hamas at Kibbutz Alumim. The Nepalese embassy later confirmed that 10 Nepalese students were killed during the attack in the kibbutz. Israeli media also reported that migrant workers from Thailand and the Philippines were also taken captive by Palestinian militants. The Philippine government confirmed that four Filipinos were killed while two others were injured in the attacks, with authorities verifying reports of Filipinos being held captive by Hamas. 26 Filipinos were rescued by Israeli security forces, while two Filipinos were unaccounted for. At least 28 Thais were killed and 17 were captured by Hamas at Kibbutz Alumim. The reason for Hamas attacking the foreign workers' living quarters was because security guards successfully defended the main kibbutz residential area from invasion so they attacked softer targets. There were no guards stationed at the mostly Asian-inhabited living quarters.

A German-Israeli national, Shani Louk, was killed while attending the Re'im music festival; a video of Palestinians parading her near-naked body in a car was circulated on the internet. Several other German citizens were reported to be among those kidnapped by militants. At least 17 British citizens were reported as dead or missing, including one attendee of the music festival. 18 Ukrainians, a Cambodian student, and a Chilean woman were confirmed to have been killed by Hamas. 13 French citizens were killed, with an additional 17 missing, including four children.

At least 31 Americans were killed during the attacks and 13 others were missing. Mexico's Secretary of Foreign Affairs reported that two Mexican nationals were presumed to have been taken hostage by Hamas. One Brazilian national was reported as injured and three were reported missing. An Indian caregiver was injured by a rocket barrage in Ashkelon. The British embassy confirmed the death of a British national who attended the music festival.

Spanish foreign minister José Manuel Albares said two Spaniards were attacked without specifying their condition. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani stated that an Italian-Israeli couple went missing in Be'eri. Two Tanzanian students were reported by their embassy to be missing. The Russian Embassy stated that 16 Russian nationals were killed and nine others went missing following the attack. Four Argentinians were reported to have been killed and three were reported missing. The Canadian government stated that three Canadians were killed, and that two other Canadians were missing. A Paraguayan couple was reported killed, with the government also reporting two nationals missing. An Irish attendee of the music festival was reported missing. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Peru confirmed that a Peruvian-Israeli soldier was killed in action on the front line, while three remained missing. A Colombian couple attending the music festival was reported missing after the attack. The Austrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs reported that three Austrian-Israeli dual nationals had been captured, and that one of them had later been confirmed dead. South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation confirmed that two citizens, including a dual national, were killed.

In Gaza, a Ukrainian national was confirmed to have been killed.

Hostages in Gaza

See also: Kidnappings during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war

Posters in Tel Aviv calling for the return of Israeli hostages in Gaza

About 200–250 people were taken hostage during the Israeli attacks, mostly civilians. On 8 October, Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed to be holding at least 30 captives. At least four people were reported taken from Kfar Aza. Videos from Gaza appeared to show captured people, with Gazan residents cheering trucks carrying dead bodies. Israel reported four captives were killed in Be'eri, while Hamas indicated that an IDF airstrike on Gaza on 9 October killed four captives.

Civilians believed to be held captive in Gaza include families, children, festival-goers, peace activists, caregivers, and elders such as 74-year-old Vivian Silver, a peace activist and former board member of the human rights organisation B'Tselem, who went missing following the attack on Be'eri. 75-year-old historian Alex Dancyg, who has written books on Poland's Jewish community and the Holocaust, was taken from Nir Oz. Also at Nir Oz, six members of the Silberman-Bibas family were caught on video being taken from their home; on 11 October, Hamas released a video showing three of them being let go near the border fence. On 16 October, Hamas released a video of one of its hostages, a 21-year-old French Israeli woman who had sustained injuries to her arm and a scar. On 20 October, Hamas released an American woman and her 17-year-old daughter who were taken while visiting relatives in Nahal Oz.

According to a report sent to the International Committee of the Red Cross by the Geneva-based organization Hostage and Missing Families Forum, hostages include people with Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, dementia, autism and psychiatric disorders, who are "in urgent need of treatment and lifesaving medication", and are "prone to immediate mortality [without] essential medications and treatment." The report also expressed concern about untreated injuries induced during the attack.

An open letter published in The Lancet by a group of 1,500 Israeli health-care professionals expressed shock at "the greatest loss of civilian life since the establishment of the state of Israel", and the indiscriminate "barbaric rampage" through "entire villages in the south of Israel", which it termed a "crime against humanity". The letter called on the international medical community to "condemn the savage massacre, to immediately call for guarantees for the safety and health of all those being kept hostage, and to unequivocally call for the immediate and unconditional return of our families and friends who have been cruelly taken hostage".

American-Israeli author Robby Berman set up a fund offering a reward of 1 million Israeli shekels for the release of hostages in Gaza, specifically aimed at encouraging Palestinians to aid in the rescue of Jewish prisoners.

Palestinians imprisoned in Israel

Main article: Mass arrests of Palestinians during the 2023 Israel–Hamas war

Thousands of Palestinians working in Israel on the eve of the war have gone missing. Human rights groups believe they have subjected to mass arrests by Israel, but Israel has refused to release the names of those whom they are holding. According to testimonies obtained by HaMoked and Al-Jazeera some of these prisoners have been beaten by Israeli soldiers and denied access to contact the Red Cross.

See also

• Casualties in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
• Casualties of Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip
• Israeli casualties of war
• Palestinian casualties of war
• Effects of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
• Outline of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war
• War crimes in the 2023 Israel–Hamas war