The Palestinian death toll from the 20-month Israel-Hamas war has climbed past 55,000, the Gaza Health Ministry said on Wednesday.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office, meanwhile, said that Israel’s forces recovered the remains of two additional hostages held in Gaza since the October 7, 2023 attack by Hamas on southern Israel that launched the war in Gaza.
The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but has said that women and children make up more than half the 55,000 dead. Israel says it only targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas, accusing the militants of hiding among civilians, because they operate in populated areas.