On September 2, 2026 the Gaza Strip’s Hamas‑run Ministry of Health announced that more than 900 Palestinians had been killed in Israeli attacks this year, amounting to a total of over 1,300 deaths since the ceasefire on October 10, 2025. The toll includes 301 children who lost their lives in bombardments that began after a 20‑point peace plan was signed.
Despite the ceasefire, BBC Verify has documented dozens of strike videos showing damage to a beachfront café, refugee tents, a police headquarters and a funeral procession. In four key incidents – a café strike on August 18, a police strike on August 19, a funeral kill on July 9, and a high‑rise block hit on August 2 – 31 civilians and at least one child were killed. IDF statements claim these were targeted “military operatives” or “terrorist commanders,” yet the Ministry’s dataset does not separate combatants from civilians.
Monthly death spikes: The deadliest month was July, with 152 killed (21 children). From April to August, each month saw over 100 fatalities, a rate roughly double the December 2025 level.
UN and aid group accounts: UNICEF records over 300 child deaths and hundreds of injuries. It also reports that two UN‑contracted water truck drivers were killed in April by Israeli fire. Independent research firm Airwars confirms the ministry’s death tally and lists over 60 civilian incidents in July alone.
The IDF claims to mitigate civilian harm “to the greatest extent possible,” yet evidence of continuous strikes suggests a ceasefire in name only. The United Nations deems the ministry’s figures reliable, and multiple conflict‑monitoring partners confirm that at least 200 Israeli strikes have targeted Hamas or armed militants during the ceasefire period.
