The Israel Defense Forces has reportedly acknowledged in a briefing to Israeli journalists that around 70,000 Palestinians may have been killed during the war in Gaza, according to local media reports.
Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth quoted military officials as saying the estimate excludes missing persons. Public broadcaster Kan 11 reported that the information was linked to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), which is now analysing how many of those killed were civilians and how many were militants.
Palestinian figures largely align with estimates
The Palestinian Ministry of Health said on Wednesday that 71,667 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, with 1,71,343 injured. The ministry does not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties but has regularly published detailed casualty lists.
Israeli officials had earlier questioned the ministry’s figures, alleging links with Hamas and accusing it of inflating casualty numbers. However, recent internal estimates reportedly place the overall death toll in a similar range.
No official confirmation issued yet
An IDF spokesperson said the reported figures do not represent official military data and that any verified numbers would be released through official channels. The spokesperson declined to confirm whether the military maintains its own consolidated casualty database.
In past remarks, senior Israeli security officials have referred to high casualty numbers during private discussions and recorded conversations, indicating awareness of the scale of losses during the conflict.
The development highlights the continuing debate over casualty verification and the broader humanitarian impact of the war. Analysts say independent verification remains difficult due to restricted access and ongoing political tensions.
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