First Thing: Gaza hits ‘grim milestone’ of 40,000 people killed in war
Another 10,000 people believed to remain entombed in collapsed buildings. Plus, five arrests made in death of actor Matthew Perry
Good morning.
Ten months into Israel's war in Gaza, the Palestinian death toll has passed 40,000 people, according to health authorities. Most of the dead are civilians and the total represents nearly 2% of Gaza's prewar population, or one in every 50 residents.
Who has been killed? The overall death toll from Gaza does not distinguish between combatants and civilians, but by the middle of August, 32,280 bodies of victims of the conflict had been identified by name. Most were considered civilians because of their age or gender, with 10,627 children, 5,956 women and 2,770 elderly people. Other civilians counted included 168 journalists, 855 medical staff and 79 paramedics.
What do Israeli forces say? Israel does not estimate civilian casualties in Gaza, but the military says it has killed about 15,000 Hamas fighters. Israel launched the war after cross-border Hamas attacks on 7 October killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took another 250 as hostages.
What's happening with ceasefire negotiations? Hamas officials did not join Thursday's talks in Doha, saying Israel's continuing operations in Gaza were an obstacle to progress on a ceasefire.
What did prosecutors say? They knew what they were doing was wrong. They knew what they were doing was risking great danger to Mr Perry, but they did it anyways. In the end, these defendants were more interested in profiting off Mr Perry than caring for his wellbeing."
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