The death toll from Israel’s ongoing genocidal war on Gaza has reached 72,568 with 172,338 injured, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Gaza Health Ministry reports updated casualty figures
The Gaza Health Ministry, which operates under Hamas administration, released the latest numbers on April 24, 2026, showing a continued rise in fatalities and injuries since the conflict began. These figures include both direct casualties from military operations and those resulting from collapsed infrastructure and limited medical access. The ministry has consistently documented casualties throughout the war, with its data frequently cited by international bodies despite ongoing debates about accuracy.
Context on casualty reporting during the Gaza conflict
Independent analyses have questioned the precision of the ministry’s counts, with a peer-reviewed study in The Lancet estimating that traumatic injury deaths were undercounted by 41% as of October 2024. That analysis suggested the true number of traumatic injury deaths likely exceeded 70,000 by late 2024, compared to the ministry’s reported figure of 41,909 at that time. Other research has indicated even higher totals when accounting for violent and non-violent excess deaths over extended periods.
Implications for humanitarian and diplomatic efforts
The rising casualty toll underscores the severe human cost of prolonged hostilities, affecting civilian populations disproportionately and straining Gaza’s already fragmented healthcare system. International organizations continue to rely on ministry data for aid planning and advocacy, even as they acknowledge potential limitations in real-time reporting amid active conflict. The figures remain central to global discussions on ceasefire negotiations, humanitarian access, and accountability mechanisms.
Who manages the Gaza Health Ministry?
The Gaza Health Ministry is officially the Palestinian Ministry of Health – Gaza and is responsible for managing healthcare in the Gaza Strip under the Hamas administration.
How reliable are the casualty numbers from Gaza’s Health Ministry?
While the ministry’s reports have been used by the UN, WHO, and Human Rights Watch, independent studies have found significant undercounting, with one Lancet analysis estimating traumatic injury deaths were 41% higher than reported as of October 2024.