Words Fail Us. 

The horror in the Gaza Strip has been going on for so many years. We have reported on the blockade, the poverty, the wars. We have shared stories of life without water, without electricity, without hope. We have explained what international law requires and what conscience dictates.

Now, words fail us.  

Eleven days of incessant airstrikes on or near civilian homes. With nowhere to run and no safe place. Dozens of people killed, thousands injured, thousands more bereft of their homes and all their earthly possessions.  

This is not a mistake, these are no “exceptional cases”. It is the policy.

B’Tselem’s field researchers in the Gaza Strip spoke with people who lost their loved ones, their homes, literally everything. These are their words.

Fatalities during the fighting, 10 May 2021 - 21 May 2021:

232 Palestinians were killed by Israel, including 54 minors and 38 women.

137 of the Palestinians killed had not been taking part in the hostilities, 90 (including 1 minor) had been taking part in the hostilities, and for an additional 5, B’Tselem was unable to ascertain whether they had been taking part in the hostilities.

20 Palestinians, 7 of them minors, were killed by rockets fired by Palestinian organizations.

B’Tselem was unable to ascertain who killed another 8 Palestinians, 6 of them minors.

6 Israeli civilians and 3 foreign nationals were killed in Israel by rockets fired by Palestinian organizations.

1 member of the Israeli security forces was killed by an anti-tank missile fired by a Palestinian organization.

Full Figures