Israeli Official Acknowledges 70,000 Death Toll in Gaza Conflict

Wed Feb 04 2026 05:00:01 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a significant shift, an Israeli security source has accepted that over 70,000 Palestinians have died in the ongoing Gaza war, marking a pivotal moment in the discourse surrounding casualty figures.

Israeli media reports indicate that a senior security official has acknowledged that more than 70,000 Palestinians have died in the Gaza conflict, aligning with figures previously reported by Hamas. This admission represents a notable change, as Israel has historically disputed such numbers, casting doubt on estimates from the Gaza health ministry. The war, which erupted after Hamas's attack in October 2023, has resulted in massive casualties, raising concerns among human rights organizations regarding civilian deaths and transparency in reporting.

Israeli media report that a senior security source has said the military accepts that more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed during the war in Gaza.

Israel has previously cast doubt on figures from the Hamas-run health ministry. However, their numbers have been deemed reliable by the UN and other human rights groups and widely cited by international media.

The war began after the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which resulted in the death of around 1,200 individuals and the taking of 251 hostages. Israel responded with military actions that have reportedly led to more than 71,660 casualties in Gaza according to Hamas.

It is noted that at least 492 Palestinians have been killed since a ceasefire began on 10 October 2025, with four Israeli soldiers also dying during this period. Historically, Israel has disputed figures reported by Hamas, stating before last year's ceasefire it had killed approximately 1,600 fighters since 7 October 2023.

Recent reports from a senior Israeli source suggest that the total deaths reported by the Hamas health ministry are largely accurate, despite the inability to differentiate between combatants and civilians among the dead.

While the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has historically claimed that two or three civilians are killed for every militant death, the latest estimates have not been endorsed as the official stance of the IDF.