Editing Openai/6941035e-e574-800c-b77c-58298f5c4b70 (section)

=== Assistant: 70 665 ===
~70 665

The most recent figure reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza states that approximately 70,665 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023 as of mid-December 2025. This number is widely cited in regional reporting and reflects the ongoing conflict and hostilities involving the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and other actors within Gaza. Mehr News Agency<ref>{{cite web|title=Mehr News Agency|url=https://en.mehrnews.com/news/239867/|publisher=Mehr News Agency|access-date=2025-12-16}}</ref>

Notes on figures and sources:
* This 70,665 total is based on Gaza health authorities’ reporting, which aggregates deaths attributed to the conflict between Israel and Hamas since October 7, 2023. Mehr News Agency<ref>{{cite web|title=Mehr News Agency|url=https://en.mehrnews.com/news/239867/|publisher=Mehr News Agency|access-date=2025-12-16}}</ref>
* Independent verification of these totals is difficult due to restricted access, differing methodologies used by various agencies, and disputes about definitions and causes of death. Estimates from external tracking groups (such as ACLED) place Gaza fatalities since October 7 at over ~66,200 using their own data methodologies. ACLED<ref>{{cite web|title=ACLED|url=https://acleddata.com/system/files/2025-09/ACLED-data-factsheet-Two-years-after-7-October-2023.pdf|publisher=acleddata.com|access-date=2025-12-16}}</ref>
* The figures do not come from an official IDF count; Israeli authorities do not provide a comprehensive cumulative death toll for Gaza that is publicly available in a centralized format. Reported numbers thus rely primarily on Gaza health bodies and third-party monitors. Reuters<ref>{{cite web|title=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/how-many-palestinians-has-israels-gaza-offensive-killed-2025-10-07/|publisher=reuters.com|access-date=2025-12-16}}</ref>

Interpretation:
* The reported total (around 70 000+ deaths) reflects deaths in Gaza during the conflict period but does not distinguish clearly between combatants and non-combatants in aggregated tallies published by the Gaza Health Ministry. Mehr News Agency<ref>{{cite web|title=Mehr News Agency|url=https://en.mehrnews.com/news/239867/|publisher=Mehr News Agency|access-date=2025-12-16}}</ref>
* Different organizations and studies may give lower or higher estimates depending on methodology (e.g., inclusion of indirect deaths, natural mortality, or differing data sources). ACLED<ref>{{cite web|title=ACLED|url=https://acleddata.com/system/files/2025-09/ACLED-data-factsheet-Two-years-after-7-October-2023.pdf|publisher=acleddata.com|access-date=2025-12-16}}</ref>

If you need a breakdown by time period, civilian vs combatant estimates, or comparison with other official sources (e.g., UN or WHO), specify what detail you want.