Palestinian death toll in Gaza war rises above 74,000 since the war began and other Mideast news
The Palestinian death toll from the nearly three-year Israel-Hamas war has surpassed 74,000, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. While a ceasefire that took effect last Oct. 10 has halted the heaviest fighting, Israeli strikes have continued in what the military has said are responses to threats or attacks. Here is a look at the latest news from the Middle East on Sunday. Gaza’s Health Ministry on Saturday said the Palestinian death toll has risen to 74,016 people, with 175,068 wounded.
The war erupted on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants invaded Israel, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking 251 others hostage. Since the ceasefire, 1,145 Palestinians have been killed, said the ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government. It maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and international organizations. It does not distinguish between civilians and militants, but says women and children make up around half the toll.
Meanwhile, seven Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire. Other aspects of the U.S.-brokered ceasefire remain largely stalled. Israeli forces now control over half of the Palestinian territory, Hamas has not disarmed, a new Palestinian government has not arrived and reconstruction has not yet begun. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israeli forces will not withdraw until Hamas disarms. Israel’s leading Jewish opposition parties promised to join efforts to beat Netanyahu's coalition in next month's “critical elections,” in a statement Saturday evening.
The parties have been criticized for infighting. Popular Reads Strait of Hormuz shut until Tehran's conditions met, Ghalibaf says Sep 20 Iran live updates: Trump rejects Iran offer to reopen Strait of Hormuz 4 hours ago Trump posts map showing 'Trump Strait' off Iran, and other Mideast developments 1 day ago The vote, the first since the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks, is largely seen as a referendum on the security failures that led to the attacks.
The meeting was attended by Gadi Eisenkot, a former military chief seen as Netanyahu’s main challenger; Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, two former prime ministers running together; Yair Golan, head of the center-left party, and Avigdor Lieberman, who heads a hawkish opposition party. They said they would work together to increase turnout, “combat fake news and smear campaigns” and to formulate the basic principles of the next government.
“We recognize that these elections are critical to the future of the state,” the joint statement said. ___ This report will be updated throughout the day as new developments emerge.
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