The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) has warned of an unprecedented humanitarian and demographic catastrophe unfolding across the occupied Palestinian territory, as new figures reveal staggering levels of killing, displacement, and social collapse by the end of 2025.

According to the PCBS, more than 72,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel’s military assault on 7 October 2023, marking the deadliest period in the history of the conflict. The vast majority of the victims — around 98 per cent — were killed in the Gaza Strip.

By the end of December 2025 alone, 70,942 Palestinians had been killed in Gaza, including 18,592 children and nearly 12,400 women, while almost 11,000 people remain missing. The number of wounded has reached 171,195, overwhelming what remains of Gaza’s health system.

In the West Bank, escalating Israeli military operations and settler violence have killed 1,102 Palestinians and injured 9,034 others, further deepening the humanitarian crisis beyond Gaza.

Mass Displacement Reshapes Palestinian Society

The scale of displacement has been equally devastating. Since the beginning of the war, nearly two million Palestinians have been forced from their homes in Gaza, out of a pre-war population of about 2.2 million. An estimated 100,000 people have fled the enclave entirely, while repeated internal displacement has become the norm for most families.

As a result, Gaza’s population has shrunk dramatically. The PCBS estimates that the population of the Gaza Strip has fallen by 10.6 per cent, or approximately 254,000 people, over the past two years — an unprecedented demographic decline caused by killings, displacement, and deteriorating living conditions.

Across the occupied Palestinian territory, the population now stands at 5.56 million, with 3.43 million living in the West Bank and 2.13 million remaining in Gaza.

Children Bear the Heaviest Burden

Despite the immense loss of life, Palestinian society remains overwhelmingly young — a factor that amplifies the humanitarian impact. Children under 15 now make up 36 per cent of the population, while those under 30 account for nearly two-thirds.

Yet children have also borne the brunt of the violence. Nearly 19,000 school students have been killed, most of them in Gaza, alongside 1,399 university students and hundreds of teachers and education workers.

The destruction of the education system has been widespread. More than 179 schools in Gaza have been completely destroyed, while over 200 others were damaged. Universities have also been targeted, with 63 university buildings flattened in Gaza and repeated raids reported in the West Bank.

Collapse of Healthcare and Worsening Displacement

The healthcare system in Gaza has been pushed to the brink of collapse. According to the World Health Organization, 94 per cent of hospitals and medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed. Only 19 hospitals remain partially operational, with severe shortages of staff, medicine, fuel, and equipment.

Gaza now has approximately 2,000 hospital beds for more than two million people, with hundreds more at risk of closure due to ongoing military operations and evacuation orders.

Women and children are among the most vulnerable. Around 60,000 pregnant women face life-threatening conditions due to the collapse of maternity services, while 155,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women lack adequate healthcare. Water shortages have further worsened conditions, with 95 per cent of households unable to access safe drinking water, leading to widespread disease.

Forced Evictions and Settler Violence Continue

In the West Bank, displacement has been driven not only by military operations but also by demolitions and settler violence. Thousands of Palestinians have lost their homes due to demolitions linked to Israeli planning policies, while settler attacks have increasingly forced families—particularly Bedouin communities—to flee their land.

Since 2023, more than 12,000 Palestinians have been displaced due to demolitions, settler violence, and access restrictions. Entire communities have been emptied, particularly in Area C and parts of the Jordan Valley.

A Deepening Humanitarian Emergency

The PCBS warned that the combined effects of mass killings, forced displacement, economic collapse, and the destruction of basic services represent a structural breakdown of Palestinian society.

Unemployment has surged to 46 per cent overall, reaching 78 per cent in Gaza, while the territory’s economy has shrunk by more than 80 per cent since 2023.

Humanitarian agencies caution that without urgent international intervention, displacement, poverty, and loss of life will continue to accelerate, particularly among children, who now represent the most vulnerable segment of the population.