Gaza’s death toll has surpassed 65,000 as Israel’s genocide continues, while more western nations move towards recognising a Palestinian state today.
At least 65,283 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s war on Gaza since October 2023, according to the enclave’s health ministry. The humanitarian toll continues to mount as famine spreads and international legal cases against Israel intensify.
In the past 24 hours alone, 75 bodies were brought to hospitals, including four retrieved from under rubble. A further 304 people were injured, raising the total number of wounded to 166,575. Gaza’s Health Ministry stressed that “many victims are still trapped under the rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them.”
Israel’s campaign has not only brought mass casualties but also deepened the humanitarian catastrophe. Palestinians have been shot dead while attempting to reach humanitarian aid points. In the last day, five were killed and 24 wounded, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed while seeking aid to 2,523, with over 18,473 others injured since October 2023.
The spread of starvation has added another dimension to the tragedy. Four people, including a child, died of malnutrition in the past 24 hours. This brings the death toll from hunger to 440, among them 147 children. Since famine was formally declared in Gaza last month by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, 162 have died, including 32 children.
The Health Ministry also reported that since March 18, when Israel resumed attacks following a short-lived ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement, at least 12,724 people have been killed and 54,534 injured.
International legal institutions have taken steps against Israel’s leadership. In November last year, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant over war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
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Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), further placing its actions under unprecedented legal scrutiny. These proceedings have intensified calls for accountability while the humanitarian crisis deepens.
Recognition of Palestine
While Gaza suffers devastation, a parallel diplomatic shift has emerged on the global stage. Out of 193 UN member states, 147 already recognise a sovereign state of Palestine. That number has now increased to 150 after the UK, Canada and Australia announced their recognition today.
Earlier today, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer issued the UK’s formal recognition of a Palestinian state by citing the humanitarian situation in Gaza, a rejection of Hamas, and Israel’s right to exist as a roadmap to meaningful peace. Britain’s recognition has aligned it with France, Australia, Belgium and Canada, which have all announced their recognition of Palestinian sovereignty.
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The step has been condemned by Israel and criticised by the U.S., both arguing that recognition is “rewarding Hamas” for the October 7 attack in 2023.
Starmer and his ministers have rejected the claim, insisting Hamas “can have no role in the future governance of Gaza.” The British government has also reiterated demands for the release of Israeli hostages and their plans to ramp up sanctions on Hamas.
Many Palestinians and pro-Palestine campaigners have described Starmer’s announcement as theatrics, tokenistic, and symbolic at best. Critics have argued that meaningful and practical steps for the UK to help Palestinians would include an arms embargo and economic sanctions on Israel, and criminal investigations into returning IDF soldiers.
Historical and legal background
Palestinian statehood has been a central demand since 1988, when the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) formally declared the State of Palestine. Today, Palestinians only have limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank under the Palestinian Authority, while Gaza has remained outside its control since 2007. The United Nations (UN) continues to view both territories along with East Jerusalem as its capital, forming part of a future Palestinian state.
In 2012, Palestine gained the status of non-member observer state at the UN General Assembly. In 2023, it was granted additional rights such as being seated with member states, introducing proposals, and participating in committees, though it still cannot vote.
In the European Union, Sweden, Slovenia, Ireland and Spain have already recognised Palestine. Other EU members that recognised Palestine prior to joining the bloc include Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, Poland and Slovakia.
However, resistance remains in some quarters of Europe, like Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni who warned that recognising Palestine prematurely could be counterproductive, saying it risks “appearing to solve the problem when it isn’t.” Germany has said it is not planning recognition in the short term, with officials emphasising the need for “long-overdue progress” towards a two-state solution.
