Palestinian death toll in Gaza estimated to exceed 64,000, study finds

The number of Palestinians killed in the first eight months of the Israeli war on Gaza is estimated to exceed 64,000, nearly 40 percent higher than the official death toll, a new study has found.

The report, published by The Lancet medical journal on Thursday, draws on data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, its online survey and social media obituaries.

The study estimates that between 7 October 2023 and 30 June 2024, between 55,298 and 78,525 Palestinians died from "traumatic injuries".

By 30 June, the ministry had reported a death toll of 37,877.

The study’s best estimate puts the number of deaths at 64,260 by that date, representing nearly 3 percent of Gaza’s pre-war population.

Read more: Palestinian death toll in Gaza estimated to exceed 64,000, study finds