The United Nations and other international aid organisations have decried the devastating toll of six months of war in Gaza, warning that the Palestinian territory had become "beyond catastrophic". The Gaza war broke out on October 7 with an unprecedented attack by Hamas militants that resulted in the deaths of 1,170 people, mostly civilians, Israeli figures show. The militants also took more than 250 hostages -- 129 of whom remain in Gaza, including 34 who the army says are dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 33,175 people in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory. WHO Chief voiced particular outrage at "the deaths and grievous injuries of thousands of children in Gaza", which he said would "remain a stain on all of humanity". Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted on Sunday that Israel is "one step away from victory" and has vowed to defeat remaining Hamas fighters in Gaza's far-southern Rafah city.
