Israeli media report that a senior security source has stated the military accepts that more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed during the ongoing war in Gaza. Historically, Israel has cast doubt on figures provided by the Hamas-run health ministry; however, these numbers have been regarded as credible by the United Nations and various human rights organizations, gaining traction in the international media.
The conflict escalated following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the taking of 251 hostages. In retaliation, Israel launched a military operation in Gaza, with the Hamas health ministry reporting over 71,660 fatalities.
As recent reports suggest, at least 492 Palestinians have perished since the ceasefire that began on October 10, 2025, and four Israeli soldiers have also lost their lives during this timeframe. While Israel disputes the figures released by Hamas, previous military assessments indicated a much lower number of militant casualties.
Notably, a senior military source has acknowledged the accuracy of the figures from Hamas, albeit without the capacity to differentiate between combatant and civilian deaths resulting from the conflict. Following these revelations, military officials have clarified that such statistics are not reflective of official data from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and reiterated that any formal reporting regarding casualty figures will be disseminated through official channels.
The conflict escalated following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and the taking of 251 hostages. In retaliation, Israel launched a military operation in Gaza, with the Hamas health ministry reporting over 71,660 fatalities.
As recent reports suggest, at least 492 Palestinians have perished since the ceasefire that began on October 10, 2025, and four Israeli soldiers have also lost their lives during this timeframe. While Israel disputes the figures released by Hamas, previous military assessments indicated a much lower number of militant casualties.
Notably, a senior military source has acknowledged the accuracy of the figures from Hamas, albeit without the capacity to differentiate between combatant and civilian deaths resulting from the conflict. Following these revelations, military officials have clarified that such statistics are not reflective of official data from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and reiterated that any formal reporting regarding casualty figures will be disseminated through official channels.
