Israel-Hamas War Death Toll Crosses 66,000, Says Gaza Health Ministry

The death toll in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war has risen to 66,005, according to figures released by Gaza’s Health Ministry on Sunday.

At least 79 bodies were brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours, it said. Another 168,162 people have been injured since the conflict began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched attacks on Israel, triggering a large-scale military response.

The ministry, run by Hamas, does not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties but has stated that about half of those killed are women and children. Despite its affiliation, the ministry’s data is widely cited by the United Nations and humanitarian agencies as the most credible available.

Israel’s military operations have devastated Gaza, displacing nearly 90% of its population and plunging the region into a humanitarian catastrophe. Experts say Gaza City is already in a state of famine.

The surge in casualties comes as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visits Washington for talks with US President Donald Trump on Monday. Netanyahu has dismissed growing international calls for a ceasefire, signalling no immediate change in Israel’s strategy.

Netanyahu’s Fiery UN Address
Speaking at the UN General Assembly on Friday, Netanyahu repeatedly invoked the October 7 attacks, comparing them to the September 11 terror strikes in the US.

“Granting the Palestinians a state one mile from Jerusalem after October 7 is akin to granting al-Qaeda a state one mile from New York City after September 11,” he said, calling such proposals “sheer madness.”

Netanyahu strongly criticised recent moves by some Western nations to formally recognise a Palestinian state, saying these decisions embolden terror groups and put Jews and “innocent people everywhere” at risk.