The Gaza Strip has suffered approximately $18.5 billion (€17.2 billion) in damages to vital infrastructure due to military operations launched by Israel, a joint report by the World Bank and the United Nations reveals.

According to the report's findings, the damages amount to 97% of the combined GDP of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in 2022. The extent of the destruction translates to 26 million tons of rubble and debris, which will take many years to remove.

The report details the devastation of infrastructure in the Gaza Strip and the dire situation faced by civilians in the besieged Palestinian enclave, where health facilities have collapsed, the population is starving, and humanitarian aid delivery is hindered.

Of the total damage, 72% affects residences, while 19% pertains to public services, including hospitals, schools, water supply systems, etc.

More than a million people have been rendered homeless, with three-quarters of the densely populated Gaza Strip's population displaced, the report emphasizes, warning that over 50% of the population is on the brink of famine.

It also highlights the "catastrophic, cumulative impacts on mental and physical health," noting that women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities are the most affected.