Fact Check: 500000 people have died in Gaza since 2023.

Fact Check: "500,000 people have died in Gaza since 2023."

What We Know

The claim that "500,000 people have died in Gaza since 2023" is a significant figure that requires careful examination. Various sources provide different death tolls related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza:

According to NPR, as of March 2025, Gaza's Health Ministry reported that the death toll had surpassed 50,000. This figure is far below the claimed 500,000 deaths.
BBC reports that at least 20,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel began bombing Gaza following the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023. This number is consistent with other reports but still significantly lower than the claim.
Al Jazeera provides a higher estimate, stating that 62,614 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, 2023. This figure is the highest among the sources reviewed but remains well below 500,000.
A Medium article claims that the death toll in Gaza is well over 500,000. However, this source does not provide verifiable data to support such a high figure, and it contradicts more widely accepted reports.
The Costs of War report from Brown University discusses the human costs of the conflict but does not support the 500,000 figure. It focuses on the broader impacts of the conflict, including indirect deaths, but does not provide a specific death toll.

Analysis

The claim of 500,000 deaths in Gaza since 2023 is not supported by the majority of credible sources. The figures provided by NPR, BBC, and Al Jazeera are based on official reports from Gaza's Health Ministry and other reliable organizations, which consistently report significantly lower numbers.

The Medium article suggesting a death toll over 500,000 lacks corroborating evidence and is not supported by other major news organizations or official reports. This discrepancy suggests that the Medium article may not be a reliable source for accurate data on this issue.

The Costs of War report provides valuable context on the broader impacts of the conflict but does not directly address the specific claim of 500,000 deaths.

Conclusion

Needs Research: The claim that 500,000 people have died in Gaza since 2023 is not substantiated by the available evidence from credible sources. Most reliable reports indicate a significantly lower death toll. Further research and verification from official sources are needed to confirm any figures related to the conflict in Gaza.