More than 70,000 killed in Gaza since Israel offensive began, Hamas-run health ministry says

More than 70,000 Palestinians have been killed as a result of Israel’s military campaign against Gaza, according to the region’s Hamas-run health ministry.

The death toll has continued to rise since the ceasefire came into force on 10 October; While Israel carries out air strikes, which it says are violations of the ceasefire, bodies continue to be pulled from the rubble.

Among those reportedly killed in an Israeli drone strike on Saturday were two teenage brothers, Fadi and Juma Abu Assi, whose family said they were collecting firewood when they were killed.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told the BBC they shot two suspects who crossed the so-called yellow line.

The line marks where the Israeli army agreed to withdraw under a US-brokered ceasefire more than seven weeks ago.

Media reports identified the dead children as an eight-year-old boy and his brother aged 10 or 11.

Relatives said the boys were looking for firewood east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip when they were killed.

Their funerals were held at Nasser Hospital on Saturday.

Gaza Ministry of Health (MOH) figures were widely used throughout the war and are considered reliable by the United Nations (UN) and international organizations. However, Israel has consistently disputed the data published by Gaza authorities.

International journalists, including the BBC, are prevented by Israel from entering Gaza independently, so they are unable to verify figures from either side.

The Gaza Ministry of Health said the number of Palestinians now stands at 70,100, and more than 350 of those deaths have occurred since the ceasefire on October 10.

The Israeli army launched the Gaza attack in response to the attack on southern Israel led by Hamas on October 7, 2023, in which approximately 1,200 people were killed and 251 people were taken hostage.