Gaza death toll tops 70,000, health ministry says

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By Nidal al-Mughrabi

CAIRO, Nov 29 (Reuters) – The number of people confirmed killed in Israel’s offensive in the Gaza Strip has passed the 70,000 mark, the enclave’s health ministry said on Saturday.

A total of 301 people have been added to the toll since Thursday, taking it to 70,100, the ministry added. Two died in recent Israeli strikes, the rest were identified from remains buried for some time in the rubble, according to the statement.

There was no immediate comment from Israel’s military, which has denied targeting civilians since the conflict started more than two years ago.

Israeli officials have questioned the accuracy of the figures from Gaza, accusing its Hamas rulers of exaggerating the data, charges the militant group denies.

Israel’s bombardment of Gaza – triggered by the deadly October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel – has left much of the strip in ruins, making it difficult to gather accurate information on casualties.

In the first months of the war, officials counted bodies that arrived in hospitals, and registered names and identity numbers.

In the later stages, Gaza health authorities said they held off including thousands of reported deaths in the official tally until forensic, medical and legal checks can be made.

Since a fragile ceasefire took hold on October 10, the reported death toll has kept climbing steadily as authorities there take advantage of the relative calm to search for bodies in the wreckage.

Pre-war Gaza had robust population statistics and better health information systems than in most Middle East countries, public health experts told Reuters.

The U.N. often cites the health ministry’s death figures and says they are credible.

(Reporting by Nidal Al Mughrabi, writing by Pesha Magid; Editing by Andrew Heavens)