As of 17 September 2026, AOAV has recorded 53,948 civilian casualties (34,176 killed, 19,772 injured) from explosive weapons use in the OPT in the course of Operation Swords of Iron.

The UK Government is gutting its foreign aid budget to bankroll a defence-led industrial strategy, signalling a historic shift from soft power diplomacy to militarised statecraft.

In 2023, AOAV recorded 47,476 deaths and injuries as a result of the use of explosive weapons around the world. Civilians continued to suffer disproportionately, accounting for 73% of total casualties, with 34,791 civilian deaths and injuries.

In December 2023, Action on Armed Violence recorded 7,003 deaths and injuries from 768 incidents of explosive violence around the world, as reported in English-language media. Civilians accounted for 88% (6,191) of the deaths and injuries recorded.

INEW urges stopping the use of heavy explosives in populated regions due to rising civilian casualties and infrastructure damage in areas like Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.