Fact Check: "According to health authorities in Gaza, nearly 55,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel's military campaign."
What We Know
The claim that nearly 55,000 Palestinians have been killed since the beginning of Israel's military campaign is supported by statements from the Gaza Health Ministry. As of June 11, 2025, the ministry reported that the death toll had surpassed 55,000, specifically stating that 55,104 individuals had died and 127,394 had been injured since the onset of the conflict, which began on October 7, 2023 (AP News). This figure includes both civilians and combatants, as the ministry does not differentiate between the two categories in its reports. However, it has been noted that women and children constitute more than half of the reported deaths (BBC).
Analysis
The reliability of the Gaza Health Ministry's figures has been a subject of debate. While the ministry is part of the Hamas-run government, it is staffed by medical professionals who maintain detailed records of casualties. Historically, the ministry's death tolls have aligned closely with those from independent sources and have been acknowledged by international organizations, including the United Nations (AP News, BBC).
However, Israel has consistently disputed these figures, arguing that they may be inflated and that Hamas uses civilian areas for military purposes, which complicates the situation and may lead to higher civilian casualties. This perspective is echoed by various reports that indicate a lack of independent verification due to restrictions on journalists' access to Gaza (BBC, Reuters).
Moreover, a study published in The Lancet suggested that the actual death toll could be significantly higher than reported, indicating potential underreporting of casualties (BBC). This discrepancy highlights the challenges in obtaining accurate data in conflict zones, where information can be politically charged and difficult to verify.
Conclusion
The claim that nearly 55,000 Palestinians have been killed since the start of Israel's military campaign is True based on the reports from the Gaza Health Ministry and corroborating sources. The figures, while contested, reflect a significant humanitarian crisis and are consistent with the ministry's historical data, despite the challenges in verifying such information independently.
Sources
- Gaza officials say more than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed in ... (https://apnews.com/article/israel-palestinians-hamas-war-news-hostages-aid-06-11-2025-5c84e29a249b988e1172cfcf4528cdc8)
- More than 50,000 killed in Gaza since Israel offensive began ... - BBC (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyz4nnqgvdo)
- Israeli military kills 41 people in Gaza, medics say (https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-fire-kills-12-people-gaza-medics-say-2025-06-15/)
- Israeli fire kills 60 in Gaza, many near aid site, medics say (https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-strikes-kill-35-gaza-many-near-an-aid-site-medics-say-2025-06-11/)
- Casualties of the Gaza war (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Gaza_war)
- More than 55,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war ... (https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/spotlights/2025/more-than-55000-palestinians-have-been-killed-in-the-israel-hamas-war-gaza-health-officials-say/)
- Gaza health officials say 55,000 Palestinians have died in Israel ... - PBS (https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/gaza-health-officials-say-55000-palestinians-have-died-in-israel-hamas-war)
