Gaza Herald – May 2026 recorded the highest monthly death toll in Gaza since the beginning of the year, according to figures released by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, highlighting a sharp escalation in Israeli attacks across the besieged enclave.
The ministry reported that 119 Palestinians were killed during May, making it the deadliest month of 2026 so far. The violence intensified dramatically during the days of Eid al-Adha, when approximately 30 Palestinians were killed in a series of Israeli strikes within just a few days, underscoring the growing human cost of the continuing attack on Gaza.
Official data show that women, children, and elderly people accounted for nearly 30% of all fatalities recorded during the month. Among the victims were 19 children, representing around 16% of the total death toll, while 10 women were also killed. The figures have raised renewed concerns about the disproportionate impact of the attacks on civilians and vulnerable populations.
The rise in casualties comes amid ongoing negotiations between Hamas and regional mediators in Cairo aimed at advancing the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreement. Palestinian officials and resistance groups have accused Israel of repeatedly violating the ceasefire and refusing to fulfill key commitments outlined in the agreement.
Throughout May, Israeli occupation forces intensified aerial bombardments and military attacks across various parts of the Gaza Strip, including areas previously designated as humanitarian zones and locations where displaced families had been instructed to seek refuge. Rights advocates argue that these attacks have further deepened Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and left civilians with few safe places to shelter.
The deadliest period occurred during the Eid al-Adha holiday, when successive strikes hit residential neighborhoods and displacement camps, killing around 30 people. Witnesses said that the attacks as among the most intense seen in recent months, as families attempting to observe the holiday instead faced renewed loss, destruction, and displacement.
