Fact Check: "Over 55,000 people have died in Gaza since October 2023."
What We Know
As of June 11, 2025, the Gaza Health Ministry reported that the death toll from the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 55,000 Palestinians. This figure includes a significant number of women and children, who reportedly make up more than half of the casualties (AP). The ministry has been consistent in its reporting, stating that 55,104 individuals have died and 127,394 have been injured since the onset of the conflict (PBS). Additionally, the Gaza Health Ministry's records have generally aligned with independent estimates from previous conflicts, although the Israeli government has raised concerns about the accuracy of these figures, particularly regarding the distinction between civilian and combatant casualties (AP).
Analysis
The claim that over 55,000 people have died in Gaza since October 2023 is supported by multiple reputable sources, including the Gaza Health Ministry and major news outlets such as the Associated Press and PBS. The Gaza Health Ministry, while part of the Hamas-run government, is staffed by medical professionals who maintain detailed records of casualties. Their reported figures have historically been corroborated by independent experts, lending credibility to their current estimates (AP, PBS).
However, it is important to note that the Israeli government disputes these numbers, arguing that the ministry does not adequately differentiate between combatants and civilians, which could skew the reported figures. The Israeli military asserts that its operations are targeted at militants and that civilian deaths occur due to Hamas's tactics of operating within populated areas (AP).
Despite these claims, the Gaza Health Ministry's casualty figures have been consistent with independent analyses, which suggest that the actual death toll could be even higher due to unreported deaths from indirect causes such as disease and malnutrition resulting from the conflict (Wikipedia). A peer-reviewed study published in The Lancet estimated that the total number of deaths could exceed 70,000 when accounting for non-trauma-related fatalities (Wikipedia).
Conclusion
The claim that "over 55,000 people have died in Gaza since October 2023" is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources, including the Gaza Health Ministry and independent analyses, supports this assertion. While there are disputes regarding the accuracy of these figures, particularly from the Israeli government, the overall consensus among health officials and independent observers indicates that the reported death toll is a reliable estimate of the tragic human cost of the ongoing conflict.
