Death Toll From Gaza War Surpasses 70,000 — Health Ministry

The death toll from the war in Gaza has climbed beyond 70,000, according to figures released on Saturday by the health ministry in the Hamas-run enclave, marking one of the deadliest conflicts in the region’s history as a fragile ceasefire continues to face strain.

In its latest update, the ministry said 70,100 people have been killed since the war erupted more than two years ago between Israel and Hamas.

The conflict, which has repeatedly escalated despite diplomatic interventions, has left large parts of Gaza in ruins and millions of residents facing severe humanitarian challenges.

The announcement comes as a US-brokered ceasefire which took effect on October 10 largely holds, though both Israel and Hamas have traded accusations of violating its terms. The ministry reported that 354 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the temporary truce began.

According to the statement, two additional bodies were brought to Gaza hospitals over the past 48 hours, including one recovered from beneath destroyed buildings.

Officials explained that the sharp rise in the overall death toll was partly due to the processing and verification of data relating to 299 previously unaccounted-for bodies, which have now been added to the official record.

Despite the ongoing ceasefire, conditions in Gaza remain dire. Basic services are stretched beyond capacity, thousands of families are displaced, and aid agencies warn that food, clean water, and medical supplies remain drastically insufficient.

Humanitarian organisations continue to call for sustained access to the territory and a more durable political solution, warning that without it, Gaza’s already devastating crisis could worsen further.