More than 50,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, the Hamas-run health ministry said on Sunday.
The reported death toll—50,021—accounts for about 2.1% of Gaza’s pre-war population of 2.3 million, or roughly one in 50 people, according to the BBC. The ministry also reported 113,274 injuries.
In past conflicts, figures from the Gaza Ministry of Health (MoH) have been widely cited by the UN and international organisations as reliable. However, Israel has repeatedly disputed casualty numbers released by Gaza’s authorities.
International journalists, including those from the BBC, are barred by Israel from independently entering Gaza, making it impossible to verify figures from either side. The health ministry’s report does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in the death toll.
The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack on Israel that killed about 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and took 251 others hostage. Israel responded with a large-scale military offensive that has devastated homes and infrastructure, in addition to the reported 50,000 deaths.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
