Israeli Military Admits Over 70,000 Palestinians Killed in Gaza War

A high-level security source has disclosed to BBC that the Israeli military now admits more than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed during the Gaza war. Israel had previously cast doubt on casualty numbers from the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, even though these figures were considered credible by the United Nations and other human rights organizations. The war began after Hamas attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and 251 people taken hostage. Israel responded with a military operation in Gaza, which has led to over 71,660 deaths. The report also notes at least 492 Palestinians have died since the ceasefire began on October 10, 2025, with 4 Israeli soldiers also killed. Israel has consistently disputed Hamas's numbers, claiming before the previous ceasefire that its forces had killed 1,600 Hamas fighters since October 7, 2023, and another 22,000 combatants during the war. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) previously estimated 2-3 civilian deaths for every militant killed. High-level military sources have now revealed to Israeli journalists, including those from Haaretz and Times of Israel, that the Hamas Health Ministry's total casualty figures are relatively accurate, though they cannot precisely distinguish between combatants and civilians directly killed in the conflict.