Gaza death toll passes 74,000 as truce terms stall

The Palestinian death toll in the nearly three-year conflict has reached 74,016, according to figures released by Gaza's Health Ministry on September 26, 2026. The ministry also reported that 1,75,068 people have been wounded since the war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked Israel and killed about 1,200 people while taking 251 hostages. While an October 10 ceasefire has stopped the heaviest fighting, Israeli strikes continue, with the military stating these are reactions to threats or attacks. Since that truce started, 1,145 Palestinians and seven Israeli soldiers have died. The Health Ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, states that women and children make up about half of the total deaths, and its records are seen as mostly reliable by United Nations agencies and international groups. At the same time, other parts of the U.S.-brokered peace deal remain stuck. Israeli forces currently hold more than half of the Palestinian territory. Hamas has not given up its weapons, a new Palestinian government has not taken charge, and rebuilding work has not started. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insists that military forces will not pull back until Hamas disarms.