Mar 24, 2025 - World

Gaza death toll tops 50,000 Palestinians since start of war

Ivana Saric

Palestinians flee with their belongings Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip on March 21, — Palestinians flee with their belongings in the northern Gaza Strip on March 21. Photo: Bashar Taleb/AFP via Getty Images

More than 50,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza strip since the start of the Israel-Hamas war, the enclave's Hamas-run health ministry said Sunday.

The big picture: The grim milestone comes after Israel launched a series of massive airstrikes on Gaza, shattering a roughly two-month ceasefire.

The escalation in fighting came after negotiations to extend the temporary ceasefire failed to reach a breakthrough.

State of play: The Gazan health ministry confirmed the death toll in a Telegram post Sunday, but researchers warn deaths could be significantly higher.

The United Nations has previously warned that the majority of verified deaths in the enclave are women and children.

Zoom out: The war began in Oct. 2023 following Hamas' Oct. 7 terror attacks, where 1,200 Israelis were killed and another 250 people were taken hostage.

Much of Gaza has been destroyed during the war, with experts issuing dire warnings about the humanitarian crisis in the enclave.

Go deeper: Israel resumes war in Gaza with a series of massive airstrikes against Hamas

Add Axios on Google

Gaza death toll tops 50,000 Palestinians since start of war

What to read next