Gaza’s Health Ministry has announced that the Palestinian death toll from the ongoing conflict has now surpassed 73,000.
This update on Sunday comes as Israeli forces continue to conduct strikes, despite a fragile ceasefire agreement that was brokered in October.
The ministry confirmed the total number of fatalities since the war began now stands at 73,001.
On Sunday alone, five deaths were reported: two in the southern city of Khan Younis, one in central Gaza, and two individuals who succumbed to earlier injuries.
More than 173,200 people have been wounded since the conflict erupted following the Hamas-led attack into Israel on 7 October 2023, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 1,200 people and the capture of 251 hostages.
Confirmation of the latest figures was provided by Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the ministry’s records department, and Hamza Salem from its public relations department.
The Health Ministry, which operates under the Hamas-led government, is staffed by medical professionals and its detailed records are generally considered reliable by United Nations agencies and independent experts.
However, it does not differentiate between civilian and militant casualties, though it states that women and children account for roughly half of all fatalities.
Illustrating the continued violence, an Israeli strike on Saturday evening killed two Palestinians in Khan Younis. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that the casualties were transported to Nasser hospital. The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment regarding the incident.
Israel maintains that it endeavours to avoid harming civilians, attributing their deaths to Hamas due to the militants’ operations within densely populated areas. It asserts that its strikes target militants who pose a threat and are conducted in response to ceasefire violations, including occasional attacks.
The US-brokered ceasefire deal, agreed in October, was intended to halt full-scale military operations and facilitate the return of all remaining hostages.
However, other aspects of the agreement have stalled, with Hamas refusing to disarm and Israeli troops advancing rather than withdrawing since the deal was reached. Both sides accuse the other of breaching the agreement, yet affirm it remains in effect.
Since the ceasefire came into force, five Israeli soldiers have been killed.
