For first time Israeli military officials acknowledge Gaza death toll exceeds 71,000 since October 2
Deir Al-Balah: After more than two years of war in Gaza, senior officials of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have, for the first time, acknowledged that over 71,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began on October 7, 2023, aligning with figures long reported by Gaza’s health authorities.
Israeli military sources told newspapers Haaretz and The Times of Israel that the overall death toll cited by the Gaza Health Ministry was broadly accurate, though they said the army has been unable to determine how many of those killed were combatants and how many were civilians who died as a direct result of hostilities. This marks a notable shift from earlier Israeli statements that repeatedly questioned the credibility of Gaza’s casualty data, describing it as unreliable or misleading.
The officials also said the figure does not account for Palestinians who remain missing and are feared buried under rubble, nor those who may have died due to starvation and lack of medical care amid the prolonged siege. In earlier assessments, the IDF had claimed that civilian deaths numbered two to three for every militant killed.
Following the publication of these reports, an Israeli military spokesperson sought to distance the institution from the disclosures, stating that the information published did not reflect official IDF data and that any authoritative figures would be released only through formal channels.
International agencies, including the United Nations, have consistently relied on Gaza Health Ministry data, describing its casualty recording system as credible despite the conditions of war. According to the ministry, at least 71,667 Palestinians have been killed since Israel’s military offensive began in 2023. Several independent studies and humanitarian groups have suggested that the true toll could be estimated well beyond 100,000.
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KSRTC orders removal of tobacco-related advertisements from buses, bus stands in 15 days
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has directed that all advertisements promoting the use of tobacco products, either directly or indirectly, be removed from its buses and bus stations within 15 days.
In an official release issued on Saturday, KSRTC Chief Traffic Manager (Commercial) S. Rajesh said that such advertisements should no longer be displayed on KSRTC buses, bus shelters, or at bus stations, including hoardings and glow sign boards.
The directive clearly states that no advertisements encouraging tobacco consumption, whether explicit or indirect, should be installed or exhibited on corporation property in the future.
Rajesh also instructed officials to issue notices to authorized license holders who have been permitted to install advertisement hoardings and glow sign boards at bus stations under the transport corporations. These license holders have been warned against promoting tobacco-related advertisements in any form.
