The Israeli military has made a notable departure from its longstanding position by accepting, for the first time, the casualty figures released by Gaza's health ministry. According to a report, Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) sources have acknowledged that more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed during the conflict in the enclave.
A Shift in Official Stance
For years, the Israeli government has consistently dismissed the Gaza health ministry's death toll as misleading and unreliable. This new acceptance represents a significant change in the official narrative surrounding the human cost of the war.
The Accepted Figures
The Gaza health ministry reports that 71,667 people have been killed since Israel's military operations began on 7 October 2023. This total includes 492 fatalities recorded since a ceasefire agreement was finalised in October last year. The ministry also states that 171,343 people have been wounded by Israeli fire, representing approximately 8.1 per cent of Gaza's population.
These figures are regarded as reliable by major humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations. It is important to note that the tally specifically includes those killed directly by Israeli fire, excluding deaths from other causes such as starvation.
Ongoing Analysis and Research
The Israeli military is currently analysing data on the deaths to calculate how many individuals it believes were combatants versus civilians. Gaza health ministry records identify nearly all casualties using names and identification numbers but do not distinguish between militants and civilians.
Several independent studies suggest the actual death toll could be substantially higher than the official figures. Research conducted by Professor Michael Spagat of the University of London indicated that more than 75,000 people had died as of January 2025. At that time, Gaza's health ministry placed the number at just over 45,600, suggesting a potential undercount of around 40 per cent.
Another study published in the medical journal The Lancet in January 2025 also suggested the death toll was approximately 40 per cent higher than the recorded numbers, reinforcing concerns about the completeness of official statistics.
Continued Violence and Ceasefire Developments
Violence has persisted in Gaza despite a fragile ceasefire coming into effect in October last year. Medics reported that two more Palestinians were killed in eastern Khan Younis on Thursday, in an area adjacent to where the Israeli army operates.
This acknowledgement comes as Israel and Hamas prepare to move into the second phase of the ceasefire agreement. The discovery of the body of the final Israeli hostage remaining in Gaza, police officer Ran Gvili, on Monday has influenced these developments.
Rafah Crossing Developments
Israel has agreed to reopen the Rafah crossing, which links the Gaza Strip to Egypt. This crossing serves as the main point of entry and exit for Palestinians and has been mostly closed since May 2024 when Israeli forces seized control of the Palestinian side.
The Rafah crossing was originally meant to open during the first stage of the ceasefire, but the Israeli government made it conditional on Hamas making every effort to return Gvili's body. According to Reuters news agency, citing three sources, the Israeli military intends to restrict the number of Palestinians allowed into Gaza to ensure that more people leave than enter.
The Israeli military declined to comment when approached by media outlets regarding this significant shift in acknowledging the casualty figures.
