What happened
After three weeks of air strikes and an evacuation order for northern Gaza, Israel launches ground operations in the Strip in its war, which it calls "Swords of Iron", with the declared aims of destroying Hamas's military and governing capabilities and returning the hostages. Most of Gaza's population is displaced in the course of the war.
The war destroyed most of Gaza's housing and infrastructure and displaced most of its population, which is why reconstruction, shelter and access dominate the Gaza records. Fatality totals are carried only as attributed figures: the Ministry of Health in Gaza reports more than 70,000 killed since 7 October 2023 as of 2026, a count that does not distinguish combatants and that Israeli officials dispute.
Confidence: High
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