Gaza Death Toll Rises to 74,494 as Seven More Palestinians Are Killed, Health Ministry Says

GAZA (Terror Monitor) — The death toll from Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip has risen to 74,494 Palestinians, with another 175,604 people reported injured since October 7, 2023, according to figures released by Gaza’s Ministry of Health on Wednesday.

The ministry said hospitals across the besieged Palestinian territory received the bodies of seven people killed by Israeli fire and 24 injured Palestinians over the previous 24 hours.

According to the Palestinian news agency WAFA, the latest figures include casualties recorded during the ongoing violence despite a ceasefire agreement that took effect in October 2025. Since the truce began, at least 1,534 Palestinians have been killed and 5,486 others injured, the ministry said. A further 841 bodies have been recovered from beneath the rubble during the same period.

Victims Remain Trapped Under Rubble

Gaza’s Ministry of Health warned that the actual number of casualties could be higher because many victims remain buried beneath destroyed buildings or lie in areas that ambulance crews and rescue workers cannot reach.

Emergency and medical teams continue to face severe operational challenges amid widespread destruction, damaged infrastructure and limited access to affected areas.

The war has devastated residential neighbourhoods, damaged essential infrastructure and severely disrupted healthcare, water, sanitation and other basic services. The continuing pressure on hospitals and emergency services has further complicated efforts to treat the wounded and recover bodies from destroyed buildings.

The ministry has repeatedly warned that the reported casualty figures may change as rescue teams gain access to previously inaccessible locations and additional deaths are documented.

Violence Continues Despite Ceasefire

The latest figures underline the fragility of the ceasefire, which has reduced the scale of fighting but has not ended deadly incidents in Gaza.

In a report published on October 20, Reuters said Palestinian health officials had reported at least four people killed by Israeli strikes and gunfire in separate incidents across the territory. Those killed included a teenager in Khan Younis and a man in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighbourhood. The report also said a senior Hamas security official and his wife were killed in an Israeli airstrike on their apartment in Gaza City.

The two sides continue to accuse each other of violating the ceasefire. Israel has accused Hamas of breaching the agreement and attempting to rearm, while Hamas has blamed Israel for continued attacks and restrictions that it says undermine the truce.

The ongoing violence has left Gaza’s population facing persistent insecurity, displacement and uncertainty over whether the ceasefire will lead to a lasting end to the war.

Restrictions on Supplies Deepen Humanitarian Crisis

Gaza’s Ministry of Health said restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid and materials needed to rebuild damaged infrastructure have further worsened conditions, despite provisions in the ceasefire agreement intended to ensure the delivery of supplies.

The wider humanitarian situation has also been affected by interruptions to commercial shipments. The Associated Press reported on October 15 that commercial goods had stopped entering Gaza for two consecutive days, raising concerns about shortages of food and other essential items as winter approached.

The report highlighted a dispute over fees imposed on trucks entering Gaza. Israeli authorities attributed the interruption to disagreements involving Hamas and local merchants, while Palestinian representatives disputed that account. Aid agencies have warned that humanitarian assistance alone cannot meet all the needs of a population that also depends on functioning markets and the regular arrival of commercial goods.

A separate report published by the Associated Press on October 19 said the United Nations World Food Programme was cutting food assistance because of a major funding shortfall. The agency’s reductions were expected to affect hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, adding pressure to an already strained humanitarian response.

Reconstruction Remains a Major Challenge

The scale of destruction has left large numbers of Palestinians without adequate housing and access to essential services. Rebuilding homes, hospitals, roads, water networks and other infrastructure will require sustained access to construction materials, funding and humanitarian assistance.

However, restrictions on supplies, continuing security incidents and uncertainty surrounding the ceasefire have complicated efforts to restore basic living conditions.

The Ministry of Health says the latest figures reflect the mounting human cost of the conflict since October 2023. The reported toll of 74,494 killed and 175,604 injured is based on Gaza health authorities’ records, while the full number of casualties may remain uncertain as rescue and recovery operations continue.

The latest figures were reported by Gaza’s Ministry of Health on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, and carried by the Qatari News Agency and other regional news outlets.