Fact Check: More than 55,000 Palestinians have died in the Israel-Hamas war.

Published June 20, 2025

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VERDICT

Partially True

# Fact Check: "More than 55,000 Palestinians have died in the Israel-Hamas war." ## What We Know The claim that "more than 55,000 Palestinians have d...

Fact Check: "More than 55,000 Palestinians have died in the Israel-Hamas war."

What We Know

The claim that "more than 55,000 Palestinians have died in the Israel-Hamas war" is based on various reports and estimates regarding the ongoing conflict that began on October 7, 2023. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, as of mid-June 2025, over 56,152 Palestinians have been reported killed, with the total number of fatalities expected to exceed 70,000 due to indirect causes such as malnutrition and lack of medical care (source-1). Additionally, a report from Al Jazeera stated that health officials indicated around 50,000 Palestinians had died by March 2025, suggesting that the number could be close to or exceed the claim by the time of reporting.

Analysis

The claim of 55,000 deaths is partially true. The reported figures vary significantly depending on the source and the methodology used to count casualties. The Gaza Health Ministry provides a direct count of fatalities, which includes those killed in military actions. However, this count does not include indirect deaths, which are projected to be substantial due to the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including starvation and lack of medical resources (source-1).

The estimates from different sources, such as the Associated Press, indicate that over 41,000 Palestinians have died directly from the conflict, while the total number, including indirect deaths, could be much higher. The Costs of War report emphasizes that indirect deaths could lead to a significantly higher total, potentially aligning with the claim that more than 55,000 have died.

In evaluating the reliability of these sources, the Gaza Health Ministry is a primary source of data but may be subject to political pressures and biases. Independent analyses, such as those from the Brown University Costs of War project, provide a broader context and methodology for estimating the human cost of the conflict, making them valuable for understanding the full impact of the war.

Conclusion

The claim that "more than 55,000 Palestinians have died in the Israel-Hamas war" is partially true. While direct counts from reliable sources indicate that the number of deaths is approaching this figure, the total includes both direct and indirect casualties, which complicates the assessment. The ongoing humanitarian crisis suggests that the final death toll could indeed surpass 55,000, but as of the latest reports, the direct death count is slightly lower, indicating a need for caution in interpreting these figures.

Sources

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