In brief
A senior security official in Israel has revealed that the military estimates more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed since the onset of the Gaza war. This acceptance casts doubt on Israel's earlier skepticism towards casualty figures provided by the Hamas-run health ministry, which are acknowledged by various international bodies. The conflict began following an assault by Hamas on southern Israel, leading to a significant military response.
Israeli media report that a senior security source has expressed the military's acceptance that more than 70,000 Palestinians have died during the conflict in Gaza. Historically, Israel has proven skeptical of casualty announcements made by the Hamas-run health ministry. Despite this skepticism, the figures from Hamas are regarded as reliable by the UN and other human rights organizations, with many in the international press citing them.The conflict escalated after Hamas's surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 hostages taken. In retaliation, Israel initiated a military offensive in Gaza that has led to over 71,660 reported deaths, according to the Hamas health ministry.Recent reports indicate at least 492 Palestinians have died since a ceasefire began on October 10, 2025, alongside four Israeli military casualties. Israel has consistently disputed the Hamas figures, previously asserting that around 1,600 fighters were killed prior to the ceasefire and an additional 22,000 combatants over the course of the conflict.The Israeli Defense Forces have hinted at a possible ratio of two to three civilian casualties for every militant death, although they emphasized that the newly surfaced figures do not necessarily represent an official stance. The growing acceptance of Hamas's casualty figures marks a notable shift in Israel's narrative surrounding the ongoing humanitarian crisis.
