▲ Gaza War (File Photo)
The number of Palestinians killed since the war between Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas began has surpassed 73,000, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry announced on June 14 (local time).
The Associated Press and other outlets reported that the Gaza Health Ministry stated five people were killed in central and southern Gaza due to Israeli shelling and gunfire that day, bringing the total death toll since the outbreak of the war to 73,001.
The ministry added that the number of injured has exceeded 173,200.
Israel and Hamas had been at war for two years following Hamas's surprise attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 abductions, before a ceasefire brokered by the United States took effect in October of last year.
However, as both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire agreement and Israel continues its airstrikes against Hamas, the number of Palestinian deaths continues to rise.
While the Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its casualty counts, it has previously stated that approximately half of the deceased are women and children.
Israel has criticized the Gaza Health Ministry for exaggerating the death toll.
However, the United Nations considers the data from the Gaza Health Ministry to be reliable and continues to cite the figures provided by the ministry regarding casualties.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.