Israel causes Gaza’s population to drop by about 254,000 during the war

A large-scale study published by the Guardian and prepared by the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights has found that Gaza’s population has fallen by around 254,000 people since the outbreak of war on 7 October 2023.

By the end of 2025, this decline amounted to roughly 10.6% of Gaza’s pre-war population. Researchers describe it as one of the most severe demographic shifts in the Strip’s modern history.

Unprecedented

The figures confirm what researchers call an “unprecedented demographic earthquake”. They link the decline to mass civilian killings, forced displacement, and worsening health and living conditions. These factors have also caused a sharp drop in birth rates.

The report provides stark details on the human cost of the war:

• 18,592 children were killed between the start of the conflict and the end of 2025.
• 12,400 women died as a result of violence.
• Total Palestinian casualties reached 71,000, with more than 171,000 injured.

Despite a ceasefire agreement signed in October 2025, hundreds of additional deaths and injuries were recorded afterward. This underlines both the fragility of the truce and the failure to protect civilians.

International humanitarian law under strain

The study warns that international humanitarian law, designed to safeguard civilians during war, has reached a “breaking point”. Researchers cite widespread war crimes and an almost total lack of accountability.

They caution that continued impunity risks eroding international legal protections entirely, paving the way for future atrocities.

The damage has extended far beyond loss of life. Gaza’s social fabric has been torn apart by falling birth rates, destroyed homes, and the devastation of hospitals and schools.

Severe shortages of water, electricity, and healthcare have compounded suffering, pushing civilian life into an unprecedented crisis.

International support and accountability

The study urges the international community to act immediately to protect civilians in Gaza. It calls for:

• Stronger enforcement of international humanitarian law
• Faster investigations and prosecutions of war crimes
• Urgent international assistance to relieve civilian suffering and address widespread destruction

Featured image via Red Cross