Gaza Death Toll Surpasses 74,000 as Ceasefire Remains Stalled

GAZA (Terror Monitor) — The Palestinian death toll from the nearly three-year Israel-Hamas war has surpassed 74,000, according to figures released by Gaza’s Health Ministry, as a ceasefire has halted the heaviest fighting but failed to resolve key disputes over Hamas’ disarmament, an Israeli military withdrawal and the reconstruction of the devastated territory.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said Saturday that 74,016 Palestinians have been killed and 175,068 wounded since the war began on October 7, 2023. The ministry is part of the Hamas-run administration in Gaza and does not distinguish in its overall figures between civilians and combatants. It says women and children account for roughly half of those killed.

The war began after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, according to Israeli authorities, and taking 251 people hostage.

More Than 1,100 Killed Since Ceasefire

Although the ceasefire that took effect on October 10 last year brought an end to the heaviest fighting, Israeli military operations and strikes have continued.

Gaza’s Health Ministry says 1,145 Palestinians have been killed since the ceasefire, while seven Israeli soldiers have also been killed during the same period, according to the latest figures cited by the Associated Press. Israel says its continuing strikes are directed at militants and are carried out in response to threats or attacks.

Recent incidents have continued despite the truce. On September 23, a Reuters report said an Israeli airstrike hit a vehicle in western Khan Younis, killing at least two Palestinians and wounding two others, according to local medical officials. The Israeli military confirmed the strike and said it had targeted a militant.

Ceasefire Implementation Remains Stalled

The U.S.-brokered ceasefire framework called for a series of steps aimed at ending the conflict, including the disarmament of Hamas, an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the establishment of a new Palestinian administration and the eventual reconstruction of the territory.

However, implementation of several key provisions has stalled.

Israel has maintained military positions across more than half of Gaza. Reuters reported on September 21 that Israeli forces remained in control of more than 60% of the territory.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said that Israel will not complete its withdrawal until Hamas is fully disarmed. Hamas, meanwhile, has maintained its own conditions regarding an Israeli withdrawal and the future political arrangements in Gaza.

The dispute over disarmament and withdrawal has also delayed broader reconstruction plans.

Reconstruction Yet to Begin

Nearly three years of war have left much of Gaza’s housing, health, education and other infrastructure severely damaged or destroyed.

Reuters reported this month that most of Gaza’s buildings had been destroyed or heavily damaged and that reconstruction had yet to begin nearly a year after the ceasefire ended major hostilities. More than two million Palestinians remain in the territory, with much of the population living in temporary shelters or damaged buildings.

The destruction has also severely affected Gaza’s education system. Reuters reported that UNICEF estimates about 98% of Gaza’s schools have been damaged or destroyed, while around 660,000 students have missed consistent in-person education during the conflict.

Health System Under Severe Pressure

Gaza’s health system continues to face major difficulties because of damage to medical facilities, shortages of fuel and equipment and the large number of people requiring treatment.

A report published Sunday said only 19 of Gaza’s 38 hospitals were functioning, while several of those facilities had begun reducing services because of shortages of fuel and spare parts needed to operate generators. Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported nearly 175,000 people wounded since the start of the war.

The continuing casualties, combined with the destruction of medical infrastructure, have placed additional pressure on hospitals and emergency services.

Dispute Over Casualty Figures

The Gaza Health Ministry’s figures are widely cited by international organizations and news agencies, but they do not provide a breakdown between civilians and combatants.

The ministry is controlled by the Hamas-led administration, and Israel disputes aspects of the casualty reporting while saying its military campaign is directed against Hamas and other armed groups.

At the same time, independent verification of every individual death is difficult because of the scale of destruction and limited access to parts of the territory.

The latest figure of 74,016 Palestinian deaths and 175,068 injuries therefore represents the reported cumulative toll from Gaza’s health authorities rather than an independently verified count of civilians and combatants.

A Conflict Still Without a Final Settlement

The October 2025 ceasefire has significantly reduced the intensity of the war but has not produced a comprehensive political settlement.

Hamas has not fully disarmed, Israel has not completed its military withdrawal, a new Palestinian administration has not taken over governance of Gaza, and large-scale reconstruction remains on hold.

U.S.-backed negotiations have focused on linking Hamas’ disarmament with an Israeli withdrawal and establishing an international mechanism for security and reconstruction. Reuters reported that the proposed framework envisages a phased Israeli withdrawal tied to verified disarmament, alongside a new Palestinian technocratic administration and an international stabilization force.

For now, the continued strikes, unresolved political arrangements and lack of large-scale reconstruction mean that Gaza remains in a fragile post-ceasefire environment, with the reported Palestinian death toll having crossed 74,000.