How many are dead, missing one year since Hamas’ attack on Israel?
- Since the war began, nearly 42,000 have died
- At least four Americans remain stuck in Gaza
- In late September, the U.S. issued an $8.7 billion aid package to Israel
(NewsNation) — The deadliest attack in Israeli history happened one year ago on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas, a Palestinian-based terrorist organization, stormed southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people. Israel declared war and invaded Gaza the next day.
Hezbollah, an Iran-backed militant group in Lebanon, started firing at Israel in support of Hamas, forcing a cross-border conflict.
The Oct. 7 attack came a day after the anniversary of the start of the Yom Kippur War in 1973, which ignited when a group of Egyptian and Syrian forces launched a surprise attack on Israel on Yom Kippur, the holiest day of the year in Judaism.
Tensions have escalated in recent months, with Iran firing nearly 200 missiles at Israel last week in retaliation for the Sept. 27 killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, as well as Hamas’ political leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran in late July.
The death toll in Gaza one year later is nearly 42,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and fighters.
Here are the latest numbers on deaths, missing and hostages.
The war’s events change daily, resulting in more casualties and devastation. These numbers are the most up-to-date as of the time of publishing.
How many have died in Israel?
Since Oct. 7 last year, more than 1,500 people have died in Israel from the conflict, according to the World Health Organization’s director-general on Oct. 3.
However, news outlet Al-Jazeera, using Gaza’s Ministry of Health data, reports the number killed closer to 1,100, noting: “In Israel, officials revised the death toll from the October 7 attacks down from 1,405 to 1,139.”
The outlet reports at least 8,700 have been injured in Israel.
How many have died in Gaza, West Bank?
Nearly 42,000 have died in Gaza where the majority of casualties have occurred.
The West Bank, another Palestinian territory, has experienced more than 700 deaths.
A total of 97,000 have been injured in Gaza, and another 6,250 in the West Bank.
Gaza’s Ministry of Health tracks the casualties, but there could be delays in updating the figures or slight inaccuracies.
A total of 1.9 million people have been displaced in Gaza, according to the World Health Organization.
How many have died in Lebanon?
Israel shares a border with Lebanon, where it has conducted multiple airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon’s capital. Hezbollah operates out of Lebanon.
More than 1,600 people have been killed, including over 100 children and nearly 200 women, according to the United Nations.
Israeli attacks have displaced more than 1.2 million Lebanese residents.
How many are missing?
More than 10,000 people are missing in Gaza.
Over 346,000 people are confirmed to have been displaced from their homes, according to U.N. reports, but government estimates put this number as high as 1 million.
“Since Oct. 7 to the present day, this is the 12th time that I and my children, eight individuals, have been homeless and thrown into the streets and do not know where to go,” one displaced person in Gaza, Samia Khader, told the Associated Press.
What’s happened to the hostages?
On Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas took approximately 240 civilians and soldiers hostage during the attack and brought them back to Gaza.
Hamas released about 100 hostages last year during a temporary cease-fire.
A total of 70 hostages died, the Wall Street Journal reports. Just under 100 of the hostages taken that day remain in Gaza. That total includes some hostages who have died, according to the Journal.
How many Americans have died in Israel and Gaza?
Last month, the U.S. Department of Justice estimated more than 40 Americans were killed in the Oct. 7, 2023, attack.
Some Americans were among more than 380 people who died during an attack on the Nova Music Festival, according to the American Jewish Committee.
In an official White House statement released Sept. 28 in response to the killing of Nasrallah, President Joe Biden attributed hundreds of Americans’ deaths over four decades to him.
“His death from an Israeli airstrike is a measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians,” Biden said.
How many Americans are still in Israel and Gaza?
Four Americans are still being held hostage in Gaza.
As tensions rise in nearby Lebanon, the U.S. Department of State has issued a travel advisory urging U.S. citizens to leave immediately.
“If you choose to remain in Lebanon, be prepared to shelter in place for an extended period. Keep your passport and other identity documents in an easily accessible location,” the advisory said.
The U.S. Embassy can help trapped American citizens find flights with available seats to depart Lebanon, provide emergency loans to relocate to a safe location and process emergency passport requests.
How much has Israel spent on the war?
Israel has spent $26.3 billion since August to fund the war in Gaza, but the Bank of Israel estimates the total could rise. The estimate was made before Israel’s attacks in Lebanon, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Ministry of Finance proposed its 2025 budget titled “From War to Growth” earlier this month, announcing a plan to freeze wages and adjust tax brackets and social benefits.
“Managing an economy during wartime is a challenge that demands national responsibility, sound judgment, and professionalism,” said Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich. “I am confident that the Prime Minister and my colleagues in the government and coalition will … pass a responsible, growth-oriented budget that will lead Israel’s economy from war to a path of accelerated growth.”
How much has the US spent in aid to Israel?
The U.S. has provided Israel with economic assistance for decades, but nearly all aid today supports Israel’s military, according to the Council on Foreign Relations. The U.S. has provisionally agreed via a memorandum of understanding to provide Israel with $3.8 billion per year through 2028.
In late September, the U.S. issued an $8.7 billion aid package to Israel. Earlier this year in April, Congress approved $14.3 billion in emergency security assistance for Israel, in addition to $9.2 billion in humanitarian aid.
Biden said Tuesday the U.S. would not support an Israeli attack on Iran’s nuclear sites as Israel weighs a response to Iran’s ballistic missile attack last week.