Palestinian death toll in Gaza war crosses 74,000: Health Ministry — SkimNews

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- Gaza's Health Ministry said the cumulative Palestinian death toll reached 74,016 with 175,068 wounded as of September 26, 2026, noting women and children make up roughly half the fatalities though it does not distinguish civilians from militants
- Since the October 10 ceasefire took effect, Israeli strikes have killed 1,145 Palestinians, while seven Israeli soldiers have also been killed since the truce
- Israeli forces now control more than half of Palestinian territory, and Prime Minister Netanyahu has stated forces will not withdraw until Hamas disarms
- Hamas has not disarmed, no new Palestinian government has taken over Gaza, and reconstruction has not begun despite the U.S.-brokered ceasefire framework
- The war erupted on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took 251 hostages, according to the report
- The Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, maintains records the UN and international organizations consider generally reliable
Why it matters: The 74,016 figure — reported by a ministry the UN considers reliable — includes roughly 1,145 deaths accumulated after the October 10 ceasefire was meant to stop the violence. With Israel controlling over half the territory, Hamas refusing to disarm, and Netanyahu conditioning withdrawal on disarmament, reconstruction remains frozen while casualty counts continue to climb.
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