A prominent Israeli communications source has cited a high-ranking military official reporting that Israeli operations in Gaza have resulted in the deaths of 70,000 Palestinians.

Previously, Israel had questioned figures released by the Gaza Health Ministry, led by Hamas. Despite this, human rights organizations, allied governments, and international media have continued to report casualty figures consistent with the Ministry’s data.

In October 2023, Hamas attacks in southern Israel reportedly killed 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage. In response, Israel launched military operations in Gaza. The Gaza Health Ministry reports that a total of 71,660 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict escalated.

Following a ceasefire last month between Hamas and Israel, at least 492 Palestinians were reported killed, along with four Israeli casualties. Israel has repeatedly stated that it does not accept the casualty numbers attributed to Hamas fighters.

Over the past year, the European Union estimated that approximately 1,600 combatants were involved in the fighting, while around 22,000 civilians were killed. The Israeli Defense Forces previously acknowledged that for every combatant killed, two to three civilians may also have died.