Three years of the Gaza war: death toll passes 74,000
The war that began on 7 October 2023 reached its three-year mark on 7 October 2026. The Gaza Health Ministry says more than 74,000 people have been killed; a ceasefire in force since October 2025 remains fragile.
The war in Gaza, which began on 7 October 2023, reached its three-year mark on 7 October 2026. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, more than 74,000 people have been killed and over 175,000 wounded over that period. UN agencies regard the ministry's figures as broadly reliable; the ministry does not separate combatants from civilians.
Humanitarian situation
According to Al Jazeera, roughly 90% of Gaza's population — about 1.98 million people — has been displaced, and around 80% of structures have been damaged or destroyed. The World Health Organization says only 19 of the territory's 36 hospitals are partially functioning, with none at full capacity.
How it began
On 7 October 2023 a Hamas-led attack killed about 1,200 people in Israel and took roughly 250 captive. Under the October 2025 ceasefire the surviving hostages were released; by January 2026 all 251 captives, including the remains of the dead, had been returned.
A fragile ceasefire
A US-brokered ceasefire took effect on 10 October 2025, but it remains fragile: according to Al Jazeera's analysis, more than 1,460 Palestinians were killed in Gaza during the first year of the truce. Ahead of the anniversary, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for the ceasefire to become permanent, for humanitarian aid to be allowed at scale, and for international law to be respected.
