Gaza death toll rises to 72,328 despite ceasefire
A Palestinian man carries the body of his 5-month-old brother, Ahmed Al-Nader, who was reportedly killed the previous day along with other family members in an Israeli shelling on a school-turned-shelter in the Tuffah neighbourhood of Gaza City, ahead of his funeral. PHOTO: AFP
Since the start of Israeli attacks in October 2023, the total death toll in Gaza has risen to 72,328, while the number of injured has reached 172,184.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza released a written statement sharing updated information regarding Israel's attacks, which have been ongoing since October 2023.
The statement said that in the last 48 hours, the bodies of 11 Palestinians who died in Israeli attacks and 26 injured people were brought to hospitals in Gaza.
Since the ceasefire was declared in Gaza on October 10, 749 Palestinians have lost their lives, 2,082 have been injured, and the bodies of 759 have been recovered.
According to reports in the Palestinian press, the Israeli army, once again violating the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip, targeted the police station in the Bureij Refugee Camp with warplanes.
Six people were killed in an Israeli army attack on a police station in the camp.
The Global Sumud Flotilla is setting sail from Barcelona towards Gaza this time with twice the number of participants.
Read More: Israeli strike kills at least seven at Gaza police checkpoint
Flotilla sails with doubled participants
The Global Sumud Flotilla, formed in 2025 by representatives of NGOs, activists, and volunteers from different countries around the world to break the blockade on Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid, is setting sail for Gaza for the second time.
It is noteworthy that the largest participation in the flotilla heading towards Gaza from different points in the Mediterranean is once again from Spain.
The Barcelona fleet, which last set sail in September 2025 with 42 boats and 462 people, will depart on April 12th with almost double the number of boats (70) and around 1000 volunteers from 70 countries.
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Pablo Castilla, a spokesman for the flotilla departing from Barcelona, stated in a press release that the main objective of the initiative is "to condemn Israel's international complicity in the genocide in Gaza, to demand accountability from those responsible, and to open a humanitarian corridor by sea and land".
We’re sailing tomorrow!!
Massive appreciation to everyone who made this happen. pic.twitter.com/YzZ3dJfTmOCastilla stated that they complained about the decrease in international attention on Gaza due to the US and Israeli attacks on Iran and Israel's attacks in Lebanon, and emphasised that "Israel has intensified its blockade of Gaza, restricted aid access, expanded settlements, and accelerated the process of land confiscation."
Other organisers of the Global Sumud Flotilla also stated that they were acting in accordance with the law and that the mission was being carried out in coordination with civil society organisations, lawyers, politicians, maritime security and media strategy experts in Palestine.
This year's mission also drew attention with the participation of well-known NGOs such as the international environmental organisation Greenpeace and Open Arms, which conducts rescue operations for irregular migrants in the Mediterranean, as well as increased support from the Barcelona City Council.
During the Global Flotilla initiative in September 2025, Israeli forces illegally stopped the flotilla, forcibly boarded the boats, detained the volunteers, and took them to Israel.
The Israeli navy initially boarded several boats approximately 70 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza, cutting off communication and jamming signals. Israeli forces also used drones to disrupt emergency signals and the live broadcast of the boarding operation.