The health ministry of the Gaza Strip announced that the cumulative number of Palestinians killed since the start of the Israeli military operation in October 2023 has risen to 73,651, with 174,575 reported injuries as of 5 September 2026. The figures are cited by Middle East Eye, which notes that rights groups and United Nations officials have characterized the campaign as genocidal.
In the latest 48‑hour reporting period, hospitals in Gaza received 17 additional bodies. Among those, five were identified as newly deceased, one person died from injuries sustained earlier, and 11 bodies were recovered from collapsed structures. The same period saw 27 more Palestinians taken to medical facilities with injuries.
The health ministry's data also references the ceasefire that took effect on 11 October 2025, indicating that the death toll continued to climb after the truce began. While the exact post‑ceasefire figure is not detailed in the source, the ministry confirms that fatalities have persisted despite the pause in hostilities.
The ongoing conflict has placed immense strain on Gaza's already fragile health infrastructure. Facilities are coping with a steady influx of casualties, limited medical supplies, and the challenge of locating and retrieving bodies from rubble. The reported numbers underscore the scale of human loss and the continuing humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
International observers have repeatedly called for an end to the violence and for unhindered access to medical aid. However, the health ministry's latest update shows that casualties continue to mount, reflecting the protracted nature of the conflict and the difficulties in delivering relief.
The data released by Gaza's health authorities provides the most recent official accounting of the human cost of the war, which began after Hamas attacks on 7 October 2023. The figures are likely to be used by humanitarian agencies and diplomatic actors in assessing the situation and formulating responses.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/gaza-death-toll-october-2023-rises-73651-health-ministry-says.