Israel Admits Up to 70,000 Palestinians Killed in Gaza Conflict

Israel’s military has accepted that around 70,000 Palestinians were killed during the fighting in Gaza, according to senior military officials cited by Israeli media on Friday. This marks a shift from earlier skepticism regarding death tolls issued by Gaza’s health authorities. The United Nations has long regarded casualty figures reported by Gaza’s health ministry as credible.

The Gaza Health Ministry now states that the death toll exceeds 71,000, including more than 480 people killed in Israeli attacks since a ceasefire was brokered by the US in October. They estimate thousands more are buried under rubble across devastated cities in Gaza.

Ynet and other leading Israeli media reported on Thursday that the military had adopted similar figures. “In our estimation, around 70,000 Gazans were killed during the war,” one official from the military was quoted as saying. “We are currently working to distinguish between terrorists and those who were not involved.”

The October 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, which triggered the fighting, resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths, mostly civilians, according to Israeli figures. More than 470 Israeli soldiers have been killed during the conflict.

Meanwhile, US diplomatic sources indicate that leadership at its Gaza mission is changing amid uncertainty over the initiative’s future role. The top military officer at the Civil-Military Command Centre (CMCC) is expected to be replaced by a lower-ranking US commander. The civilian head has returned from a “transitional role” as US ambassador to Yemen.

Diplomats say doubts are growing about the CMCC’s effectiveness in increasing aid flows or delivering political progress, prompting some partners to reconsider their involvement. After four phases of the ceasefire plan, major fighting has ceased, hostages have been exchanged for prisoners, and Israeli forces withdrew from nearly half of Gaza’s territory. Despite accusations of violations, over 400 Palestinians and three Israeli soldiers have died since the truce began.

Gaza’s approximately two million residents are now confined to a small area outside an occupied zone, living in makeshift tents or damaged buildings. Trump announced his plan’s second phase this month, which would see Israel further withdraw and Hamas relinquish control to an internationally backed administration.