2025.. More than half of the victims of explosive weapons attributed to Israel

SadaNews - An annual report by the Explosive Weapons Observatory revealed that 2025 witnessed the deaths of thousands of civilian victims due to the use of explosive weapons worldwide, noting that more than half of the recorded deaths are attributed to the Israeli army, especially during its ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, with a concerning rise in attacks on health and educational facilities and humanitarian relief operations.

The Explosive Weapons Observatory stated in its annual report published on Thursday that over half of the deaths caused by explosive weapons worldwide in 2025 are attributed to the Israeli army, particularly due to its war on the Gaza Strip.

According to data from the observatory, which includes dozens of NGOs worldwide, at least 22,600 civilians were killed or injured due to explosive weapons in 65 countries during 2025, resulting from bombings, drone attacks, anti-personnel mines, and cluster bombs.

The report indicated that "56% of all recorded deaths worldwide are attributed to Israeli armed forces," especially in their war on the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.

Despite the announcement of a ceasefire on October 10, 2025, the Gaza Strip continues to experience near-daily Israeli airstrikes, according to the report.

In November 2024, "Save the Children" reported that explosive weapons resulted in a record number of child deaths or injuries in 2024, noting that in Gaza, 20,000 children have lost their lives since Israel launched its war on the region in October 2023.

The means and weapons of killing and destruction used by the Israeli occupation army in the Gaza Strip varied, including lethal booby-trapped robots.

Other countries where civilians paid a heavy price include Ukraine, Myanmar, Syria, and Sudan, where government armed forces are responsible for "85% of all incidents causing damage to civilians."

The report also highlighted a 358% increase in drone attacks targeting schools in Ukraine, while drone strikes on refugee camps in Gaza and the occupied West Bank increased nearly fivefold, from 64 incidents in 2024 to 303 incidents in the following year.

The observatory explained that these figures only include damages directly associated with explosive weapons, estimating that the actual toll could be higher due to the difficulty in documentation, in addition to not accounting for the indirect repercussions resulting from the destruction of civilian infrastructure, such as hospitals, and the resultant casualties.

The Advocacy Director at "Handicap International," a member of the observatory, stated that "the use of explosive weapons in populated areas systematically deprives civilians of essential services necessary for life, as schools, hospitals, aid convoys, water pipes, and food markets are increasingly destroyed."

According to the report, attacks on health facilities and teams remained high throughout 2025, with 1,272 incidents recorded. Attacks on schools and universities rose by 64%, reaching 1,416 incidents, and attacks on humanitarian relief operations increased by 52% compared to the previous year, recording 2,541 incidents.