Hamas Health Ministry says more than 70,000 people have died in Gaza since Israel launched its offensive

Israel’s military operations in Gaza have killed more than 70,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-controlled region’s health ministry.

The death toll has continued to rise since the ceasefire came into effect on October 10, with Israel launching airstrikes over alleged ceasefire violations and continuing to pull bodies out from under the rubble.

Among those killed in an Israeli drone strike on Saturday were two younger brothers, Fadi and Juma Abu Assi, whose families said they were collecting firewood when they were killed.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) told the BBC they shot dead two suspects who crossed the so-called yellow line.

The line marks where Israeli troops agreed to withdraw more than seven weeks ago under U.S. mediation.

Media reports said the dead boys were an 8-year-old boy and his 10- or 11-year-old brother.

Relatives said the children were looking for firewood east of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip when they were killed.

Their funeral was held at Al-Nasser Hospital on Saturday.

Data from the Gaza Ministry of Health (MoH) were used extensively throughout the war and are considered reliable by the United Nations (UN) and international agencies. But Israel has always disputed the data released by Gaza authorities.

International journalists, including the BBC, are blocked from independent access to Gaza by Israel and are therefore unable to verify data from both sides.

Gaza’s health ministry said the Palestinian death toll now stands at 70,100, of which more than 350 have died since the October 10 ceasefire.

On October 7, 2023, the Israeli military launched an offensive in Gaza after a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel killed approximately 1,200 people and took another 251 people hostage.