Health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza says war death toll at 50,021

GAZA CITY: The health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said on Sunday that at least 50,021 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since war with Israel began in October 2023.

“The toll for the Israeli aggression has reached 50,021 martyrs and 113,274 wounded since October 7, 2023”, a ministry statement said, referring to the day Hamas launched the attack on Israel that triggered the war.

The territory´s civil defence agency, citing its own records, also said the toll had topped 50,000 deaths. AFP has been unable to independently verify the figures, as has been the case throughout the war. The toll surged this week following the breakdown of a truce that had largely held since January 19, with Israel launching heavy bombardments of the Gaza Strip and a renewed ground offensive.