DayofPal—The Israeli army has acknowledged the accuracy of the Palestinian Ministry of Health’s death toll in Gaza, marking a significant shift after years of rejecting the figures, according to a report by Haaretz.
The army reportedly said that the figure of approximately 71,000 Palestinians killed during Israel’s war on Gaza is largely accurate, though it does not include those still buried under rubble.
Israeli officials had previously dismissed the ministry’s data as unreliable.
According to the report, the Israeli army is continuing to analyze the figures, which also exclude deaths caused by starvation or disease linked to the prolonged war and blockade.
While accepting the overall toll, the army said it is attempting to differentiate between civilian and combatant deaths.
The war on Gaza, which lasted more than two years, has devastated much of the territory, destroying nearly 90 percent of its infrastructure.
Despite a ceasefire brokered by the United States in October, Israeli forces have reportedly committed more than 1,300 violations, resulting in the deaths of nearly 500 Palestinians.
Israeli forces continue to control more than half of the Gaza Strip. The next phase of the ceasefire plan calls for the withdrawal of Israeli troops, the disarmament of Hamas, and the deployment of an international force.
Hamas said that Israel must fully implement the ceasefire, including allowing aid into Gaza and completing its withdrawal.
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