Israel Confirms 71,000 Palestinian Deaths in Gaza War

Israeli Military Acknowledges Gaza Death Toll Figures

In a significant development, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has for the first time accepted the Gaza Health Ministry's estimate that approximately 71,000 Palestinians have been killed during the ongoing conflict in Gaza. This acknowledgment, reported by Israeli media, marks a departure from Israel's previous stance of questioning the reliability of Palestinian casualty figures.

Breaking Down the Numbers

The 71,000 figure represents only those killed directly by Israeli military actions and does not include an estimated 9,000 people believed to be buried under rubble, according to Palestinian health authorities. The UN humanitarian agency OCHA reports that since October 7, 2023, at least 71,654 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, with more than half being women, children, and elderly people.

'It is striking that Israel is now for the first time recognizing figures from the Palestinian Ministry of Health,' said Nasrah Habiballah, correspondent for Israel and the Palestinian Territories. 'Although many international organizations and researchers indicated that the figures were reliable, Israel continued to question them.'

Civilian Casualties and Broader Impact

An internal Israeli military database suggested last year that more than 80 percent of those killed in Gaza were civilians. According to UN reports, the humanitarian situation remains dire, with approximately 1.6 million people facing high levels of acute food insecurity through mid-April 2026.

Several research institutes indicate the actual death toll may be significantly higher, potentially exceeding 100,000 when accounting for indirect deaths from famine, disease, and lack of medical care. The UN reports that 421 Palestinians, including 113 children, have died from famine-related causes due to the Israeli blockade.

Ceasefire and Prisoner Exchange Progress

The acknowledgment comes amid ongoing implementation of a ceasefire agreement that began in October 2025. According to the International Committee of the Red Cross, Hamas has released the last 20 living hostages taken on October 7, 2023, and transferred the bodies of 28 deceased hostages. In exchange, Israel has released approximately 1,800 Palestinian prisoners and returned 360 Palestinian bodies.

The ICRC recently announced that Israel has transferred the bodies of 15 Palestinians, concluding what the organization called 'a months-long operation that has reunited families and supported the implementation of the ceasefire agreement.'

International Context and Future Proceedings

The Israeli military has not yet released official figures on the breakdown between combatants and civilians among those killed. Israel is expected to provide data to the International Court of Justice in The Hague on March 12, 2026, as part of ongoing proceedings related to the conflict.

This acknowledgment represents a significant moment in the documentation of the Gaza conflict's human cost, coming after more than two years of warfare that has devastated the Palestinian territory and resulted in unprecedented casualties in the region's modern history.