Health authorities in Gaza announced on Saturday that the Palestinian death toll has exceeded 69,000 in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, as both sides continue to exchange remains under the terms of a fragile ceasefire agreement.
Ceasefire Brings Grim Discoveries
The significant increase in reported fatalities stems from two primary factors: the recovery of additional bodies from beneath the rubble across the devastated Gaza Strip since the ceasefire began on October 10, and the identification of previously unknown victims. The updated count also includes Palestinians killed by strikes that Israel claims target remaining militants.
The total number of Palestinians killed now stands at 69,169, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which maintains detailed records considered reliable by independent experts despite being part of the Hamas-run government.
Exchange of Remains Continues
The ceasefire arrangement, while delicate, appears to be holding. On Saturday, Israel returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to Gaza, following the previous day's handover of hostage remains by militants. Hospital officials in the strip confirmed the receipt of the Palestinian bodies at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis.
These exchanges represent a central component of the initial phase of the ceasefire agreement, which requires Hamas to return all hostage remains as quickly as possible. The truce aims to de-escalate the deadliest and most destructive conflict ever fought between Israel and the Palestinian militant group.
Since the ceasefire began, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 23 hostages, including the most recent return of Lior Rudaeff, leaving five still in Gaza. In exchange, Israel has handed over the bodies of 300 Palestinians.
Identification Challenges and Ongoing Violence
Gaza health officials face significant challenges in identifying the recovered bodies without adequate access to DNA testing kits. So far, they have managed to identify only 89 of the returned remains.
The Health Ministry reported that 284 additional people were recently added to the cumulative total after their identities were verified between October 31 and November 7. Over the past three days, ten bodies were brought to Gaza hospitals—nine retrieved from rubble and one newly killed—along with six injured individuals.
Since the ceasefire began on October 10, a total of 241 people have been killed in Gaza, according to official figures. The ministry also noted that a large number of Palestinians remain missing.
West Bank Violence Escalates
Separately on Saturday, Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers, paramedics, activists, and journalists in the occupied West Bank as settler violence reaches unprecedented levels in the territory.
Palestinian health officials reported that 11 people were injured in the attack on the central town of Beita. Among the injured were journalists, volunteers, and farmers participating in this year's olive harvest.
The United Nations humanitarian office documented the highest monthly number of Israeli settler attacks on Palestinians and their property in the West Bank during October since record-keeping began in 2006. There were over 260 attacks recorded, averaging eight incidents per day.
With settler violence surging throughout the territory, volunteers and activists have increasingly accompanied Palestinian farmers during the olive harvest to help them safely access their fields. These groups have repeatedly come under attack in recent weeks.
The conflict began with the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and resulted in 251 taken hostage.
