THE death toll in Gaza has climbed to 72,070 since fighting between Hamas and Israel erupted on 7 October 2023, according to the territory’s health authorities.
Reuters reported officials saying on Saturday that the number of injured has reached 171,738, underscoring the scale of devastation inflicted during more than two years of conflict.
In the past 48 hours alone, one body and 10 wounded individuals were brought to hospitals in Gaza, the authorities added.
Despite a ceasefire that came into effect in October last year, violence has continued to claim lives. Since the truce began, 612 Palestinians have reportedly been killed and a further 1,640 injured.
The sustained hostilities and mounting casualty figures have heightened international alarm over the worsening humanitarian situation in the enclave, where access to medical care, food and basic services remains severely constrained.
The conflict, which began with Hamas’s attack on Israel in October 2023 and was followed by a large-scale Israeli military response, has left vast areas of Gaza in ruins and displaced much of its population.
Global diplomatic efforts to secure a durable cessation of hostilities have so far failed to produce a lasting settlement, as civilian casualties continue to mount. - February 22, 2026
