DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas war has surpassed 73,000, Gaza’s Health Ministry said Sunday, despite a fragile ceasefire that has been described as stalled.
Israel has continued to strike inside the territory despite the deal reached in October, saying it carries out strikes against Hamas and other militants who pose a threat, and in response to ceasefire violations, including occasional attacks. Five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the truce.
Confirmation of the latest Palestinian toll came from Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the ministry’s records department, and Hamza Salem from the ministry’s public relations department.
The number of deaths since the beginning of the war is now 73,001. On Sunday, the ministry said, there were five deaths: two in the southern city of Khan Younis and one in central Gaza, in addition to two who died of earlier wounds.
Over 173,200 people have been wounded since the start of the war, which was ignited by the Hamas-led Oct. 7, 2023, attack into Israel. That attack killed some 1,200 people and took 251 others hostage.
The health ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, is staffed by medical professionals and maintains detailed records viewed as generally reliable by United Nations agencies and independent experts. It does not distinguish between civilians and militants but says women and children make up around half of all fatalities.
Israel says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames their deaths on Hamas because the militants operate in densely populated areas.
The U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal reached in October ended full-scale military operations and led to the return of all the remaining hostages.
But other elements of the deal have stalled as Hamas has refused to disarm and Israeli troops have advanced in Gaza, rather than withdrawn. Both sides accuse the other of violating the agreement but say it is still in effect.
Progress on all other issues — including reconstruction, Israeli troop withdrawals and the establishment of a new Palestinian government — is being held up by the deadlock over disarming Hamas, the top diplomat overseeing the U.S.-brokered ceasefire in Gaza, Nickolay Mladenov, has said.
The war displaced most of the Palestinian population of over 2 million, left large parts of the territory in rubble and created widespread shortages of food, medicine and other basic supplies as the border crossings with Gaza — all but one controlled by Israel — slammed shut.
Magdy reported from Cairo.
Palestinians clear the rubble of a building that was destroyed in an Israeli airstrike, at al-Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Friday, June 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
GENEVA (AP) — Thousands of demonstrators converged Sunday to show their discontent against the G7 group of rich countries, with U.S. President Donald Trump and counterparts set to hold a summit starting a day later in nearby France.
Environmentalists and feminists joined foes of imperialism, defenders of independent media, supporters of Palestinian rights and others in a lakeside park in Geneva for a march across town. A boat whose sail read “No G7” floated by, as sunbathers and swimmers basked under blue skies.
Swiss and French authorities have deployed thousands of police to provide security for the three-day summit starting Monday in the resort town of Evian-les-Bains, France. The leaders are set to discuss issues including the Middle East, Ukraine and global economic imbalances.
Authorities have blocked off roads, banned unauthorized gatherings and pledged financial support for businesses who could be hit by unrest. Scores of businesses and shops have boarded up their storefronts with wooden panels as a precaution — leery of upheaval that left a trail of damage in Geneva during a similar summit in Evian in 2003. Only seven of the 35 roadway border crossings will remain open.
Demonstrators have been gathering for days in advance of Sunday's march in Geneva, the largest city in the area and designated gathering spot for activists who oppose the G7.
A flotilla of around 20 boats appeared on Lake Geneva off the coast of Evian on Saturday, displaying anti-G7 and pro-Palestinian banners. Some 20 protesters were detained on Friday evening, according to Swiss media reports.
Earlier, between 100 and 150 people had gathered in Geneva for a protest bicycle ride, slowing down traffic and chanting anti-G7 and pro-Palestinian slogans, public broadcaster RTS reported.
Local resident Robin Hedz lamented the “mess” and expressed bafflement about the “wood-wall everywhere,” while acknowledging the memories of the trail of damaged property at the summit over 20 years ago.
France will deploy more than 13,000 police and gendarmerie officers to ensure security in the summit area just across the border. Over 800 French border control officers will be active, up from about 60 normally.
French gendarmes buzzed around in motorboats off the coast of Evian on Saturday, and one officer hoisted up a bulky drone-interception device in a display of the security measures being rolled out for the summit.
Protests are nothing new around such elite gatherings. This time, activists want to demonstrate frustration with Trump’s leadership on issues as diverse as tariffs, the war in Iran and the climate, or even highlight his past ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
“We are very afraid of the policy and the politics of Mr. Trump and also of the other leaders of the G7, because they are fighting, making war all over the place," said Francoise Nyffeler, spokesperson for the NoG7 coalition, which has organized the demonstration and march on Sunday.
"The planet is in danger and we are very scared about it and we want to protest and say that the people of the world are against their policies,” she added.
Associated Press video journalist Oleg Cetinic contributed to this report.
Protestors begin to gather in Geneva, Switzerland, with banners and signs during a demonstration, Sunday, June 14, 2026, ahead of the G7 summit scheduled to take place in France June 15-17. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
People gather and swim on Lake Geneva, Switzerland, as a sailboat with a "No G7" banner sails by, Sunday, June 14, 2026, ahead of the G7 summit scheduled to take place in France June 15-17. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Oxfam's satirical 'big heads' of the G7 leaders depicting French President Emmanuel Macron, left, and U.S. President Donald Trump pose, in Evian-les-Bains, France, Sunday, June 14, 2026, ahead of the G7 summit scheduled to take place in France June 15-17. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
A man rides his bicycle in front of a mural, ahead of expected protests for the G7 summit, in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
French police officers check cars crossing the border between Geneva and the French town of Gaillard, France, Wednesday, June 10, 2026, ahead of the upcoming G7 summit due to take place June 15-17 in the town of Evian-les-Bains. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
Pedestrians walk past the boarded-up windows of a shop, ahead of expected protests for the G7 summit, in Geneva, Switzerland, Tuesday, June 9, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
French military boats patrol Lake Geneva in Evian-les-Bains, eastern France, Thursday, June 11, 2026, ahead of the G7 summit scheduled to take place June 15-17. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
Construction workers board up a shop window, ahead of expected protests for the G7 summit, in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, June 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)
