Israel accepts Gaza’s 70,000 death toll: A record of denialism, lies

Al JazeeraCenterEN 11 min read 100% complete by Priyanka ShankarJanuary 30, 2026 at 01:40 PM

AI Summary

long article 11 min

After repeatedly denying or downplaying the death toll in Gaza since October 7, 2023, the Israeli army has reportedly accepted the Gaza Health Ministry's estimate of approximately 70,000 deaths. This acknowledgment, made by an Israeli army official to journalists, marks a shift from Israel's previous stance of disputing the figures. As of January 27, 2026, the Gaza Health Ministry estimates at least 71,662 people have been killed, including those who died after the declared ceasefire and from starvation. Thousands more remain missing, presumed buried under rubble. While the Israeli official did not acknowledge the high proportion of civilian deaths, the acceptance of the overall death toll represents a departure from Israel's earlier denials.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Bisan Owda 40% National Committee for Missing Persons 40% UNRWA 40% Rafah 50% Palestinian Ministry of Health ×270% Israel ×1090% Gaza Strip ×795%

Keywords

gaza death toll 100% war on gaza 90% denialism 80% israeli military 70% palestinian ministry of health 70% civilian casualties 60% starvation 50% missing persons 50% mass graves 50%