The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza has issued its latest daily statistical update, on December 26, reporting new casualties and the recovery of bodies from previously inaccessible areas in the devastated Gaza Strip. Three Palestinians were killed or died Friday due to the Israeli genocide in Gaza, and the bodies of two Palestinian women were found.
Meanwhile, another Palestinian civilian was shot and killed on Friday by the Israeli occupation army, in Jabalia refugee camp east of Gaza City.
WAFA news reported that the Israeli occupation army fired a machine gun at Adi al-Maqadma, while he was sitting in his shop stall in front of the gate of Hafsa School, east of the city. He was shot in the head, and his injury was described as critical. He was transferred to the hospital, and doctors later announced his death.
Early this morning, 13-year-old Ahmed Radwan Abu Al-Kas succumbed to his injuries after being shot and critically injured by Israeli army gunfire in the Shujaiyya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, in breach of the ceasefire agreement.
Also Friday, two female bodies were discovered buried in an irregular manner while a Palestinian citizen was attempting to set up a tent on a vacant plot of land.
The official spokesperson of the Palestinian Civil Defense in the Gaza Strip, Mahmoud Basal, reported that the bodies are believed to belong to two women killed by Israeli forces and buried in a makeshift grave.
Relevant authorities were notified to take necessary measures, complete examinations and investigations, and the bodies were transferred to the forensic department at Al-Shifa Medical Complex.
Also on Friday, Palestinian child Fathi Abed, 4 years old, died after a severe deterioration in his health caused by progressive brain damage that began at the start of the Israeli war. Medical sources say the exact cause could not be diagnosed due to the lack of medical capabilities and diagnostic tools.
Fathi’s sister, Dina, who suffers from the same illness and symptoms, remains in critical condition. Doctors warn that her life is at serious risk, as Gaza’s healthcare system is unable to provide the necessary treatment amid severe shortages of medical equipment and specialized care.
Palestinian child Lamia Hajji is suffering from severe malnutrition, leaving her health in critical condition, according to medical sources. Her condition has deteriorated due to the ongoing Israeli war and the lack of food supplies caused by the Israeli blockade, amid widespread shortages of basic nutrition and medical care.
The figures released today by the Palestinian Ministry of Health align with data published by numerous media outlets, rights groups, and local civil defense statements, all of which highlight the continued humanitarian collapse in the Strip.
Casualties in the Last 48 Hours:
Hospitals in the Gaza Strip received:
- 3 Palestinians killed: including 1 newly killed and 2 bodies recovered,
- 16 injured.
Medical sources confirm that rescue teams remain unable to reach multiple neighborhoods due to destroyed roads, unexploded ordnance, and ongoing Israeli fire.
Civil defense crews report that an unknown number of victims remain under rubble.
Since the “Ceasefire” Announcement (11 October 2025)
Despite the declared “ceasefire,” Israeli strikes and structural collapses have continued. Ministry data, consistent with figures reported by Al-Jazeera and Arabs48, shows:
- 410 killed.
- 1,134 injured.
- 654 bodies recovered from rubble.
Local journalists note that the term “ceasefire” has not translated into safety on the ground, with several districts still experiencing bombardment or delayed rescue access.
Cumulative Toll Since 7 October 2023
- 70,945 Palestinians killed
- 171,211 injured.
These totals include large numbers of children, women, elderly people, medical workers, journalists, and civil defense personnel.
Humanitarian agencies warn that the real toll is likely higher due to inaccessible areas and communication blackouts.
Mass Funeral in Khan Younis for 25 Palestinians Recovered From Rubble
In Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, residents held a mass funeral for 25 Palestinians, including journalist Hiba al‑Abadla, whose bodies were recently recovered from beneath the rubble of homes destroyed by Israeli airstrikes two years ago.
Local civil defense stated that the remains were found as crews gained limited access to western Khan Younis, where entire residential blocks had been inaccessible since earlier phases of the assault.
Journalist unions renewed calls for international investigations into the targeting of media workers.
Families described the funeral as both a moment of closure and a reminder of the prolonged suffering caused by years of delayed recovery operations.
12% of Gaza’s population has been killed, injured, or gone missing, representing an unprecedented demographic hemorrhage.
Even more alarming is the nature of injuries and victims’ age structure. Gaza now contains “the largest concentration of child amputees in modern history.” pic.twitter.com/smWPyxOBPG
— Ramy Abdu| رامي عبده (@RamAbdu) December 26, 2025
Humanitarian and Operational Collapse
Health officials, echoed by UN OCHA and Al-Jazeera, warn that Gaza’s medical system is operating far beyond capacity:
- Hospitals are overcrowded and critically undersupplied.
- Fuel shortages threaten generators and surgical operations.
- Several medical facilities remain partially or completely destroyed.
- Civil Defense teams lack equipment to clear rubble or reach trapped victims.
The Ministry of Health calls for:
- Immediate access for rescue teams,
- International protection for medical workers,
- Sustained humanitarian corridors,
- Independent investigations into attacks on civilians and medical infrastructure.
In Gaza today, displaced Palestinians sheltering along the coast of Gaza are currently bracing for the low-pressure weather system bringing heavy rain, adding to their ongoing hardship.
With every rainstorm, families living in makeshift tents face flooding, cold, and unsafe conditions, as the Israeli blockade continues to prevent the entry of proper shelters, waterproof materials, and basic protection, leaving thousands exposed to harsh weather with no safe alternatives.
Also on Friday, a group of 168 Palestinian doctors graduated in Gaza amid the ruins of Al-Shifa Medical Complex, marking a powerful display of resilience after two years of Israel’s war.
Completing their Palestinian Board certifications while working under bombardment, starvation and displacement, the doctors, who named themselves the “Humanity Cohort”, defied efforts to destroy Gaza’s healthcare system through their continued studies.
Gaza Health Ministry official Youssef Abu Al-Reish described the ceremony as graduation from “the womb of suffering, under bombardment, among rubble and rivers of blood”.
Dr Mohammed Abu Salmiya, Al-Shifa’s medical director, said Israel sought to destroy Palestine’s humanity throughout its attacks on healthcare facilities, “but it failed in that goal”.
First Published On Dec 26, 2025 at 23:08
