Gaza witnessed a 6per cent population decline, approximately 160,000 people, in 2024, as reported in a new assessment detailing the demographic impact of Israel’s military campaign against Hamas.
According to Tuesday’s report by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), roughly 100,000 Palestinians evacuated Gaza following the conflict’s start on October 7, 2023.
Additionally, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza documented at least 45,553 fatalities from Israeli military operations.
The assessment highlighted critical humanitarian concerns, noting 60,000 pregnant women faced serious health risks due to insufficient medical care, whilst 96per cent of residents encountered severe food security issues.
The current population of Gaza stands at 2.1 million, with children under 18 comprising 47 per cent of residents, as stated in the PCBS report.
Concurrently, Israel’s Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) indicated a continued but slower population growth, attributing this deceleration to increased emigration.
The Israeli bureau noted that the complete effects of the regional conflicts on long-term population movements remain uncertain.
In its Tuesday publication, the census office reported Israel’s population growth rate decreased to 1.1 per cent in 2024, down from 1.6 per cent in 2023.
The report attributed this decline primarily to increased emigration, with 82,700 residents departing Israel in 2024, compared to 55,000 in the previous year.
Israel’s population reached 10.027 million by December 31, 2024, surpassing 10 million for the first time, though this figure included foreign nationals residing in the country.
The nation faced significant internal challenges, including widespread demonstrations in 2023 against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s proposed judicial reforms.
Following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attacks, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and 250 kidnappings, Israel initiated military operations in Gaza. The Gaza health ministry reports these operations have caused over 45,000 fatalities and 108,000 injuries.
Israel currently faces multiple conflicts, including engagements with Lebanon’s Hezbollah, which began attacks on October 8, 2023, and confrontations with Iran, Yemen’s Houthis, and various militant groups in Syria and Iraq who claim to support Palestinians in Gaza.
