Conflict escalates in the Middle East
Civilians continue to pay the highest price of the conflict in Israel, Gaza and the West Bank.
Last updated: 27 March 2025
Since the devastating attacks in Israel on 7 October 2023, conflict has escalated in Gaza, with a surge in fighting in the West Bank.
This has led to an increase in civilian casualties and thousands of people have fled their homes, some into Syria.
A ceasefire agreement was reached in January, giving respite from relentless suffering. But renewed hostilities in March and a pause in aid delivery has left millions of lives in the balance.
The suffering in Gaza is catastrophic. Famine has loomed for months, clean water is scarce, and the healthcare system has all but collapsed. Most people have fled from their homes, but nowhere is safe to go.
These painful events must be a call to action to prioritise the protection of civilian lives during armed conflict.
Palestine Red Crescent Society teams and volunteers provide first aid services and psychological first aid. PHOTO: PRCS
Gaza and the West Bank in numbers
- The death toll in Gaza is over 45,000. There have been over 968 fatalities in the West Bank.
- Over 109,000 people have been injured in Gaza and over 15,000 in the West Bank.
- 90% of Gaza’s population have been displaced from their homes, often more than once.
Israel in numbers
- The death toll in Israel is over 1,200, with more than 5,400 injured.
- Over 143,000 people have been evacuated from their homes.
The Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement response
Our colleagues at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) continue to urge the parties to the conflict to uphold international humanitarian law, and to take every possible measure to avoid civilian casualties and further harm.
Since the start of the ceasefire agreement, the ICRC has facilitated the return of 30 hostages and 1,510 Palestinian detainees.
The ICRC remains ready to continue to implement the agreement so that more families can be reunited.
The ICRC has received over 13,000 requests from families searching for missing loved ones, with many still in uncertainty about their fate.
The ICRC has helped more than 1,400,000 people access clean water.
The Palestine Red Crescent Society ambulance crews, including paramedics, drivers, and first responders are also risking their lives every day to save others.
The Egyptian Red Crescent Society has carried out over 2,500 medical evacuations from Gaza.
The Lebanese Red Cross has deployed ambulances and emergency medical volunteers across Lebanon and is supporting in urban search and rescue and evacuation.
In Israel, the Magen David Adom is Israel's sole National Blood and Medical Emergency Service. In the past year, they have responded to over 1,000,000 emergency calls.
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