For the first time, Israel has acknowledged the Gaza death toll reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health, which estimates that more than 70,000 people have been killed since the war began on October 7, 2023.
Thousands remain missing beneath the rubble, while at least 440 people have died of starvation after Israel restricted aid access, according to a report of Al Jazeera.
Throughout the conflict, Israel consistently denied or downplayed Palestinian casualty figures, releasing its own shifting statistics and accusing Gaza authorities of exaggeration. Yet investigations and eyewitness accounts confirmed that the overwhelming majority of those killed were civilians, including women and children. Israeli forces were also linked to several high-profile deaths, among them five-year-old Hind Rajab, Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, and 15 emergency responders whose bodies were later discovered in a mass grave in southern Gaza. In each case, Israel initially rejected responsibility before attributing the deaths to operational errors, crossfire, or poor visibility.
Experts argue that Israel’s recent acknowledgment is primarily strategic. Sultan Barakat, a professor of public policy, told Al Jazeera that mounting international scrutiny, expanded UN access, and ongoing rubble clearance made continued denial impossible.
By accepting the figures, Israel seeks to preserve institutional credibility, demonstrate seriousness to allies such as the US and European nations, and establish a legal record for potential future inquiries without admitting wrongdoing.
This development reflects a familiar pattern in Israel’s military conduct: denial and manipulation of casualty numbers followed by selective acceptance once evidence becomes irrefutable.
Analysts further note that delaying acknowledgment serves both diplomatic and legal objectives, enabling Israel to shape the narrative and reduce accountability in international forums.
