Gaza Death Toll Nears 72,300, Ministry Says; Over 700 Killed Since Ceasefire

The death toll in Gaza from the ongoing war has reached nearly 72,300, according to the territory's Health Ministry. The ministry is run by Hamas, the group governing Gaza. The ministry provided new figures on casualties since a recent pause in fighting ended. It says Israeli military actions have killed at least 704 people and injured more than 1,900 in that period. These statistics cannot be independently verified. However, figures from the ministry in previous conflicts have generally been deemed reliable by the United Nations and other international observers. The war began with a major attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7. Israel launched a large-scale military operation in response, with the stated aim of dismantling Hamas.