Rising Toll: Gaza Deaths Surpass 70,000

The death toll from Israel's offensive in the Gaza Strip has surpassed 70,000, according to Gaza's health ministry. Despite Israeli skepticism over the figures, the rising numbers reflect ongoing devastation since the conflict began. The U.N. considers the health ministry's data credible, highlighting the challenges of accurate casualty accounting.

The Gaza health ministry announced that the death toll in the region has exceeded 70,000 due to ongoing Israeli offensives. In recent updates, 301 additional casualties have been reported, raising the total to 70,100, with two recent victims identified from Israeli strikes.

Israel's military has not commented on the figures, maintaining their stance against targeting civilians. The accuracy of the reported death toll has been questioned by Israeli officials, who suspect that Hamas is inflating the numbers—allegations that Hamas denies.

The bombardment, a result of an October 2023 Hamas attack, has left Gaza in ruins, complicating the casualty verification process. The U.N. continues to recognize the credibility of the health ministry's statistics, which further highlight the region's ongoing humanitarian crisis.

(With inputs from agencies.)