Gaza reaches 1,000 days of conflict as death toll climbs

The war in Gaza marked its 1,000‑day anniversary, with Gaza’s Ministry of Health reporting a cumulative death toll of 73,098 since the October 2023 cease‑fire, including over 21,500 children and 1,022 infants. More than 90 % of the Strip has been destroyed, agricultural land is largely unusable, and tens of thousands remain in tents with limited medical supplies. Protests outside al‑Shifa Hospital demand an end to travel restrictions on medical evacuations, while the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention called for the release of Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya after 555 days of imprisonment.

In parallel, the US‑led “Board of Peace” met in Ayia Napa, Cyprus, to oversee a technocratic committee that will administer Gaza under President Donald Trump’s reconstruction plan. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also laid a foundation stone for a new heritage centre at the former Qalandia Airport and approved additional West‑Bank settlements.

A recent AP‑NORC poll shows 52 % of Democratic voters now label Israel’s actions as genocide and 58 % believe the United States is overly supportive of Israel, reflecting growing domestic pressure on US policy.