Palestinian Death Toll in Gaza Conflict Surpasses 74,000 According to Health Ministry

• There have been 1,145 Palestinian fatalities since the ceasefire, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry
• Hamas leader dismisses potential changes from Israel’s election, stating he expects Israelis to campaign off Gaza’s “blood”

Updated 7 min 14 sec ago

September 27, 2026 23:31

GAZA: The Palestinian death toll from the nearly three-year Israel-Hamas conflict has exceeded 74,000, as reported by Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The ministry confirmed the death toll has risen to 74,016, with 175,068 individuals wounded. The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when militants launched an invasion of Israel, resulting in approximately 1,200 fatalities.

“We absolutely refuse to allow the blood, suffering, and cause of the Palestinian people to serve as fuel for Israeli elections. What matters to us is that our people achieve their goals, aspirations, and legitimate rights,” stated Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas leader.

While a ceasefire that began on October 10 has halted intensive combat, Israeli strikes have persisted, characterized by the military as responses to perceived threats or attacks.

Since the ceasefire, 1,145 Palestinians have been killed, according to the ministry. The most recent Israeli strike in Gaza’s Muwasi area of Khan Younis resulted in one fatality and three injuries, as reported by Palestinian health officials.

Prospects for further developments in the U.S.-brokered ceasefire remain largely stalled.

Israeli forces currently control more than half of the Palestinian territory, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserting that they will not withdraw until Hamas disarms.

Netanyahu is engaged in a tight contest to maintain power in the October 27 elections, which are widely viewed as a referendum on the security failures that preceded the October 7 attack.

Leading Jewish opposition parties have pledged to collaborate in defeating Netanyahu’s coalition in the upcoming critical elections, despite facing criticism for internal conflicts.

In an interview, Hamas leader Khalil Al-Hayya dismissed the possibility of change following Israel’s election, anticipating that Israelis would campaign against Gaza’s “blood.”

“Whether this or that person comes to power, or this party or another — our people have suffered at the hands of all Israeli parties,” Al-Hayya told the media.

“We absolutely refuse to allow the blood, suffering, and cause of the Palestinian people to serve as fuel for Israeli elections. What matters to us is that our people achieve their goals, aspirations, and legitimate rights.”

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