A new study estimates over 100,000 people killed in the Gaza Strip and life expectancy slashed by almost half as Israeli occupation assault continues, causing an unprecedented collapse in population survival rates.

A recent demographic analysis warns of population collapse in the Gaza Strip, where violence has led to massive mortality and a drastic reduction in life expectancy.

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The analysis conducted by the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) and the Centre for Demographic Studies (CED) underscores how the relentless assault has reshaped survival patterns, leaving the population facing one of the most severe demographic shocks in modern history.

Between October 2023 and December 2024, researchers estimate that over 78,000 Palestinians lost their lives due to direct violence. By October 2025, the cumulative death toll had likely surpassed the 100,000 mark, a figure that continues to rise as the conflict drags on. This staggering number reflects not only the immediate fatalities but also the long-term erosion of population health and resilience.

Collapse of Life Expectancy

The study highlights that life expectancy in the GazaStrip fell by nearly half compared to pre-genocide projections. In 2023, average survival dropped by 44%, and in 2024, the decline reached 47%, representing a loss of more than 34 years of life in 2023 and over 36 years in 2024.

The researchers emphasize that these figures represent only direct violent deaths. They do not account for indirect causes such as starvation, disease, or the breakdown of medical care, which often amplify mortality during a prolonged escalation of aggression, which suggests that the true scale of human loss may be even greater than current estimates.

Hospitals in Ruins

The humanitarian crisis extends far beyond mortality statistics. More than 100,000 people remain wounded, with at least 17,000 requiring immediate evacuation due to the collapse of medical services. Out of 36 hospitals, only eight are partially functional, while the rest have been destroyed or rendered inoperable before zionist attacks.

The destruction of Gaza’s health system has left doctors unable to treat the wounded, and the shortage of medicine and supplies has reached critical levels. Infrastructure across the territory has been devastated, with reports indicating that nearly 80% of Gaza are in ruins. Over a million residents have been displaced, forced to live in tents or shelters without adequate sanitation or minimum resources for survival.

A Warning to the World

The study’s authors caution that their findings should be seen as a baseline, not a final tally. The humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza is multidimensional, encompassing not only violent deaths but also the collapse of essential systems that sustain life. The researchers urge the international community to recognize the scale of this genocide against the Palestinean people and to act before indirect deaths surpass battlefield casualties.

The demographic collapse in Gaza is not merely a statistic—it is a profound transformation of human survival under siege, with life expectancy slashed nearly in half, hospitals destroyed, and infrastructure shattered after 2 years of Israeli attacks.

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