Israeli Army Acknowledges Hamas-Linked Gaza Death Toll Exceeding 71,000

The war in Gaza entered a new phase of official accounting after the Israeli army acknowledged Hamas-linked figures for the overall death toll, with France 24 reporting that the Israeli army now estimates “more than 71,000 Gazans have been killed since October 7.”

France 24 says the Israeli army accepted the Gaza Health Ministry estimate “according to which about 71,667 Palestinians were killed during the Israel-Hamas war,” citing Haaretz.

Anadolu Ajansi

The same France 24 report frames the acknowledgment as “the first time since the start of the war in Gaza,” after Israel had long labeled the Gaza Health Ministry tallies as “deceptive.”

It also reports that the Israeli army’s acceptance still comes with a dispute over categorization, stating that “these data do not distinguish between civilians and Hamas terrorists, who would account for at least 25,000 deaths.”

France 24 further says the Israeli army contends that the UN inflated “the number of 'starvation deaths'.”

In parallel, France 24 reports that the Israeli army announced on Friday that it carried out air strikes and “eliminated three terrorists” who emerged from a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip.

The report adds that the ceasefire’s fragility remains visible in the casualty flow, stating that “Since the ceasefire went into effect on October 10, 2025, 492 Gazans have nonetheless been killed.”

While France 24 reported the Israeli army’s acceptance of an estimate “about 71,667 Palestinians were killed,” multiple other outlets published higher death-toll figures attributed to Gaza medical reporting.

WAFA, writing on May 3, 2026, said “The death toll from the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza has risen to 72,610, with 172,448 injured since the war began on October 7, 2023,” and it added that “Local health authorities reported that hospitals across Gaza received two fatalities and three injuries over the past 24 hours.”

Arab News PK

WAFA also stated that “the total number of Palestinians killed since the start of the ceasefire on October 11, 2025, has reached 830,” with “injuries have risen to 2,345,” and “767 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble.”

Qatar news agency (QNA) reported on May 2, 2026 that “the death toll from the Israeli occupation's aggression on the Strip has risen to 72,608 martyrs and 172,445 wounded since Oct. 7, 2023,” and it said hospitals received “seven martyrs in the past 24 hours.”

Mehr News Agency likewise said the Palestinian Ministry of Health put the number of Palestinians “martyred in the Gaza Strip” at “72,608,” adding that “seven martyrs, including four new martyrs and three martyrs,” were pulled from the rubble and “26 injured people have been admitted to hospitals” over the past 48 hours.

Saba, in a report dated “Sun, 03 May 2026,” said “The death toll from the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip rose to 72,610 martyrs and 172,448 wounded since October 7, 2023,” and it specified that “hospitals received two martyrs and three wounded individuals in the past 24 hours.”

Across these reports, the same operational constraint is repeated: WAFA said “ambulance and rescue crews are still unable to reach” some victims, while QNA said “Many victims remain under the rubble and in the streets, as ambulance and rescue teams have been unable to reach them at this time.”

The sources also present a specific ceasefire timeline that is used to compute separate casualty totals.

“More than 71,000 dead in Gaza: the Israeli army acknowledges Hamas's toll”

France 24

France 24 says the ceasefire “went into effect on October 10, 2025,” and it adds that “Since the ceasefire went into effect on October 10, 2025, 492 Gazans have nonetheless been killed.”

In contrast, WAFA and QNA repeatedly anchor their post-ceasefire totals to “the start of the ceasefire on October 11, 2025,” with WAFA stating that “the total number of Palestinians killed since the start of the ceasefire on October 11, 2025, has reached 830.”

WAFA also ties injuries and recovered bodies to that same date, saying “injuries have risen to 2,345” and “767 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble.”

QNA similarly says “the total number of martyrs since the ceasefire on October 11 has risen to 828,” and it reports “the total number of injuries to 2,342, while 767 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble.”

Mehr News Agency likewise states that “Since the ceasefire was established on October 11, 2025, 828 people have been killed, 2,342 injured, and 767 bodies have been pulled from the rubble.”

France 24 additionally describes why independent verification is difficult, stating that “international journalists are blocked by Israel from entering Gaza on their own.”

France 24 reports that even after the Israeli army accepted the Gaza Health Ministry’s estimate, it continued to challenge how the numbers should be interpreted.

The report says the Israeli army’s position is that “these data do not distinguish between civilians and Hamas terrorists, who would account for at least 25,000 deaths.”

franceinfo

It also states that the Israeli army “contends that the UN inflated the number of 'starvation deaths'.”

France 24 further describes the limits of what can be verified, saying “These figures are impossible to verify independently, as international journalists are blocked by Israel from entering Gaza on their own.”

The same report says the tally could be “greatly underestimated,” because “many people still buried under tons of rubble from the enclave almost completely destroyed.”

WAFA says “Medical teams also said that several victims remain trapped under debris and on roads, as ambulance and rescue crews are still unable to reach them due to ongoing conditions on the ground.”

Saba states that “a large number of victims remain under the rubble and in the streets, as ambulance and civil defense teams have been unable to reach them so far.”

France 24 links the Israeli army’s acknowledgment of the death toll to continued military activity that it describes as underscoring the ceasefire’s fragility.

It says “Separately, the Israeli army announced on Friday that it had carried out air strikes and 'eliminated three terrorists' who emerged from a tunnel in the southern Gaza Strip.”

Le Temps

The report then states that “This new incident underscores the fragility of the ceasefire,” and it ties that to the casualty figure it gives for the ceasefire period.

The other outlets, meanwhile, continue to publish daily or near-daily casualty updates attributed to Gaza medical sources, including the reporting of bodies recovered and injuries admitted.

WAFA says hospitals received “two fatalities and three injuries over the past 24 hours,” and it reports “767 bodies have been recovered from under the rubble.”

QNA says hospitals received “seven martyrs in the past 24 hours,” including “four new deaths and three bodies that were recovered,” and it reports “26 injuries.”

Saba says hospitals received “two martyrs and three wounded individuals in the past 24 hours,” and it states that “since the ceasefire on October 11” the number of martyrs killed by enemy fire has reached “830.”