The Israeli military has for the first time accepted figures released by Gaza's health ministry showing that more than 70,000 Palestinians were killed during its war in the territory, according to a report from Haaretz.
The Gaza health ministry says 71,667 people have been killed since Israel's military operations began on 7 October 2023, including 492 who have died since a ceasefire agreement was finalised in October. IDF sources told Haaretz that the death toll has now been accepted by military officials. The figures are regarded as reliable by humanitarian organisations, including the United Nations.
The tally includes those killed directly by Israeli fire, not those who died of other causes, including starvation. Several studies suggest the death toll could be far higher. The health ministry also reports that 171,343 people have been wounded by Israeli fire, representing around 8.1 per cent of the population.
An Israeli military official said “the details published do not reflect official IDF data”, adding: “Any publication or report on this matter will be released through official and orderly channels.” Gaza health ministry records identify nearly all casualties using their names and identification numbers, but they do not distinguish between militants and civilians. According to Haaretz, Israel's military is currently analysing data to calculate how many killed are combatants and how many civilians.
A study by Professor Michael Spagat of the University of London suggested more than 75,000 people had died as of January 2025, with Gaza's health ministry undercounting by 40 per cent. Research published in The Lancet in January 2025 also suggested the death toll was around 40 per cent higher than recorded numbers. Violence has continued even after a fragile ceasefire came into effect in October; two more Palestinians were killed in eastern Khan Younis on Thursday.
Israel and Hamas are preparing for the second phase of the ceasefire, following the discovery of the body of the final Israeli hostage, police officer Ran Gvili, on Monday. Israel agreed to reopen the Rafah crossing, which had been mostly closed since May 2024. The Israeli military intends to restrict the number of Palestinians allowed into Gaza to ensure more leave than enter, Reuters reported.
