Gaza death toll surpasses 69,000 amid Israel-Hamas remains exchange
KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA STRIP - Over 69,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israel-Hamas war, Gaza health officials reported Saturday, as both sides carried out another exchange of bodies under the fragile ceasefire.
The latest increase in casualties comes as more bodies are recovered from rubble in the devastated territory and previously unidentified remains are being matched to families. The toll also includes Palestinians killed in recent strikes, which Israel says target remaining militants.
On Saturday, Israel returned the remains of 15 Palestinians to Gaza, following the return of an Israeli hostage, Lior Rudaeff, by Hamas. The exchanges are part of the initial phase of the ceasefire, which requires Hamas to return all Israeli hostages’ remains as quickly as possible. For each Israeli returned, Israel releases the remains of 15 Palestinians.
The truce aims to end the deadliest conflict between Israel and Hamas since the October 7, 2023, attack that killed around 1,200 Israelis and left 251 hostages.
In Gaza, families checked the newly returned remains at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, where forensic teams have processed 300 bodies, identifying 89 so far. Many remain unidentified due to limited DNA resources. “I always come here. I have not lost hope. I am still waiting for him,” said the mother of a missing child.
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that the death toll has reached 69,169, adding 284 names after verification between Oct. 31 and Nov. 7. Since the ceasefire began, 241 Palestinians have been killed, including nine recovered from rubble and one newly killed. A large number of people remain missing, the ministry said.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military said its forces killed two militants on Saturday, one in northern Gaza and another in the south.
Violence also escalated in the West Bank, where Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian farmers, medics, journalists, and activists during the olive harvest. Palestinian health officials reported 11 injuries from the town of Beita. Videos showed injured victims, bandaged and bloody, arriving at a local hospital. Activist Jonathan Pollak said settlers chased workers and hurled rocks, striking both journalists and himself.
Another attack occurred in Burin, where four international activists and one man were injured, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. Israel’s military said soldiers responded to rock-throwing at vehicles and that civilians on both sides were involved.
Rights groups note that arrests and prosecutions for settler violence are rare, with charges filed in only a small fraction of cases. The U.N. reported that October saw the highest number of settler attacks on Palestinians and their property in the West Bank since 2006, averaging eight incidents per day.
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