Gaza Ministry of Health Reports 72,263 Total Killed Including 20,179 Children

The Palestinian Ministry of Health reported on March 23 that 72,263 Palestinians had been killed since October 7, 2023, including 20,179 children — the highest child death toll of any conflict in recent history. An additional 14,222 persons remained missing, believed buried under rubble, bringing the estimated total death toll to over 86,000. Injuries stood at approximately 171,830. Since the October 2025 ceasefire took effect, approximately 687 Palestinians had been killed in continued Israeli military operations. UN human rights officials documented a pattern of unlawful killings during the ceasefire period. Families in Gaza concluded their third Eid al-Fitr in overcrowded displacement camps with severely constrained access to food and medical supplies. OCHA's March 19 situation report had recorded 35 Palestinians killed in just the period of March 6-17 alone.