According to a report published on February 4, 2026, by the International Middle East Media Center (IMEMC), citing the Gaza Health Ministry, the cumulative death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 71,851 Palestinians killed and 171,626 wounded since October 7, 2023. The figures reflect casualties recorded in hospitals and medical centers across the enclave. Health officials quoted in the report caution that the actual toll is likely higher because many victims remain under rubble or in areas inaccessible to rescue teams.
As reported by IMEMC, hospitals in Gaza received 27 bodies and 18 injured people in the previous 24 hours. Medical workers say the number does not capture all fatalities, as ongoing military operations and widespread destruction obstruct emergency access. The report notes that, since a declared ceasefire on October 11, 2025, 574 Palestinians have been killed, 1,518 injured, and 717 bodies recovered from collapsed structures.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the health system is operating far beyond capacity amid severe shortages of fuel, medical supplies, and staff. IMEMC reports that dozens of medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed in Israeli attacks since the start of the war. Civil Defense sources cited in the article describe entire residential blocks reduced to rubble and say limited heavy equipment forces rescuers to dig by hand.
The IMEMC report states that humanitarian conditions continue to deteriorate as bombardment and ground operations displace hundreds of thousands of people. Many civilians are sheltering in overcrowded schools, improvised tents, or damaged homes, often with limited access to clean water and sanitation. Aid agencies referenced in the report warn that the combination of displacement, hunger, and collapsing basic services is pushing Gaza’s civilian population toward an even deeper crisis.
How Are Authorities and Agencies Responding?
According to IMEMC’s coverage, health officials in Gaza are using hospital admissions, morgue records, and Civil Defense retrievals from rubble to compile casualty statistics. They repeatedly stress that these figures represent only those who make it to medical facilities or whose bodies are recovered. Officials quoted in the report describe neighborhoods that remain cut off by damaged roads, unexploded ordnance, and ongoing shelling, making systematic counting difficult.
As reported by IMEMC, Civil Defense teams say they cannot reach many calls for help because of fuel shortages, destroyed infrastructure, and the absence of heavy machinery. First responders are frequently described as working with basic tools and manual labor to remove debris. Humanitarian organizations cited in the article urge for safe corridors and sustained access to allow medical and rescue teams to operate and to deliver food, medicine, and fuel.
Internationally, the IMEMC report notes that aid agencies continue to flag Gaza’s humanitarian emergency in statements and appeals. They warn that prolonged displacement and infrastructure collapse heighten risks of disease and further loss of life. While the article focuses primarily on Gaza-based health and rescue authorities, it places their warnings in the context of ongoing discussions about ceasefire enforcement, accountability, and access for international relief operations.
Supporting Details
According to the Gaza Health Ministry figures reported by IMEMC, the period following the declared ceasefire on October 11, 2025, has seen continued fatalities and injuries. In that time, 574 people have been killed and 1,518 injured, with 717 bodies recovered from beneath destroyed buildings. Health officials emphasize that these numbers underscore the persistence of lethal incidents even after the ceasefire announcement.
As reported by IMEMC, repeated strikes on hospitals, clinics, and ambulances have severely weakened emergency care. Medical staff interviewed or cited in the report say operating theaters, intensive care units, and diagnostic services are functioning under extreme constraints, often relying on backup generators and limited fuel supplies. The article also notes that many health workers have themselves been killed, injured, or displaced, further straining service delivery.
The report describes large-scale displacement, with hundreds of thousands of residents forced from their homes by bombardment and evacuation orders. According to IMEMC’s account, many are living in makeshift shelters or crowded facilities, where shortages of food, clean water, and sanitation are chronic. Aid organizations mention that the destruction of roads, power lines, and water infrastructure complicates both relief distribution and basic daily survival for civilians.
IMEMC’s article highlights the unknown number of people still missing under rubble or in inaccessible areas. Civil Defense teams say continuing military activity and lack of equipment mean some neighborhoods cannot be systematically searched. Health and rescue officials warn that, as time passes, the chances of finding survivors diminish, and many deaths may never be fully documented in the official toll.
What Are the Implications and Possible Next Steps?
According to the figures reported by IMEMC, the rising death toll and sustained level of destruction underline the scale of Gaza’s humanitarian and reconstruction challenges. Health officials and aid agencies cited in the report warn that, without a durable ceasefire and guaranteed access for humanitarian supplies, casualty numbers could continue to climb. They also stress that rebuilding hospitals, homes, and critical infrastructure will require extensive resources and time even after hostilities cease.
The ongoing restrictions and insecurity described in the article have implications for regional diplomacy and international legal debates. Advocacy groups and humanitarian organizations referenced by IMEMC continue to call for investigations into alleged violations of international humanitarian law, including attacks on medical facilities and civilian areas. Their statements suggest that documentation of casualties and damage during this period is likely to be central in any future accountability mechanisms.
Looking ahead, IMEMC’s reporting indicates that local authorities, health workers, and international agencies are focused on both immediate lifesaving needs and longer-term recovery. They emphasize the urgency of restoring reliable electricity, water, and health services to prevent secondary crises such as disease outbreaks and malnutrition. At the same time, the sustained rise in deaths and injuries, even after a declared ceasefire, raises questions among observers and rights organizations about enforcement of ceasefire terms and the protection of civilians in any future arrangements.
In sum, the IMEMC report portrays a Gaza Strip where the official death toll has surpassed 71,800, with tens of thousands more injured and many people still unaccounted for. Health and rescue officials describe a health system stretched beyond its limits, neighborhoods in ruins, and humanitarian conditions that remain dire despite ceasefire announcements, while aid agencies continue to warn of the risk of further deterioration without sustained access and protection for civilians.
