Gaza death toll rises to 67,074 amid ceasefire talks
Israeli airstrikes continue in Gaza, killing 66 and injuring 265 in 24 hours, as Hamas engages with mediators over Trump’s plan.
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Buildings that were destroyed during the Israeli ground and air aggression are engulfed by smoke following an Israeli military strike in the northern Gaza Strip, Palestine, October 3, 2025. (AP)
The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate as Israeli strikes persist, even as Hamas engages with mediators over US President Donald Trump’s proposed plan for a ceasefire and hostage exchange.
According to the Ministry of Health in Gaza, 66 Palestinians were killed and 265 injured in the past 24 hours, with some casualties still trapped under rubble as emergency teams struggle to reach affected areas. Since October 7, 2023, the cumulative toll of Israeli attacks on Gaza has reached 67,074 deaths and 169,430 injuries.
The period from March 18, 2025, to October 4, 2025, has alone seen 13,486 deaths and 57,389 injuries, reflecting the intensity of the ongoing aggression. Authorities have also added 720 verified fatalities to the cumulative records after completing judicial reviews of notifications and missing persons cases.
Among the recent victims are six humanitarian aid workers who were killed and 40 injured, raising the total number of aid worker casualties to 2,603 dead and over 19,094 injured. The relentless targeting of aid convoys has further hindered relief efforts in the Strip.
Read more: Gaza has become 'worst graveyard' for journalists: The Guardian
Child malnutrition crisis
The Ministry of Health also reported two child deaths in the past 24 hours due to malnutrition, bringing the total number of fatalities linked to the famine to 459, including 154 children. Since the International Food Policy Research Institute (IPC) declared Gaza under conditions of famine, 181 deaths, including 39 children, have been recorded.
The casualties come amid Hamas’ formal response to Trump’s proposal, which the movement presented after consultations with other Palestinian factions. The plan includes the release of all Israeli captives in line with the US framework, alongside a proposed handover of Gaza’s administration to a technocratic Palestinian administration under Arab and international oversight. Hamas stressed that broader questions regarding Gaza’s future and Palestinian rights will be addressed within a unified national framework.
Palestinian Resistance factions have affirmed that Hamas’ response represents a responsible and unified stance of the Palestinian forces, calling for all parties, including the Palestinian Authority, to fulfill their obligations and take urgent national measures.
Read more: Palestinian Resistance factions welcome Hamas response to Trump plan