Palestinian death toll in Gaza war crosses 74,000: Health Ministry — SkimNews
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- Gaza's Health Ministry reported on September 26, 2026 that the Palestinian death toll has risen to 74,016, with 175,068 wounded, since the war began on October 7, 2023.
- The October 10 ceasefire halted the heaviest fighting but failed to stop the bloodshed — 1,145 Palestinians and seven Israeli soldiers have been killed since it took effect.
- UN agencies and international organizations view the Health Ministry's records as generally reliable, though the ministry does not distinguish civilians from militants and says women and children make up roughly half the toll.
- The U.S.-brokered ceasefire remains largely stalled on every front: Israeli forces now control over half of Gaza, Hamas has not disarmed, no replacement Palestinian government has taken over, and reconstruction has not begun.
- Netanyahu has conditioned any Israeli withdrawal on Hamas disarming — a demand Hamas has not met.
Why it matters: The ceasefire meant to end the killing has become a slow-bleed phase: 1,145 more Palestinians dead since October 10 while every core commitment — Hamas disarmament, government transition, reconstruction — sits unresolved, with Netanyahu tying any Israeli withdrawal to Hamas disarming.
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