Gaza Conflict Death Toll Exceeds 64,000 in Two Years, Data Shows

A recent claim by Australian human rights activist Drew Pavlou, suggesting that "More people could have died in Sudan in the past week than died in the past two years in Gaza," has sparked discussion, though available data indicates a stark contrast to his assertion. International reports consistently show tens of thousands of fatalities in Gaza over the specified period, far surpassing any documented weekly death tolls in Sudan.

Since the conflict in the Gaza Strip escalated on October 7, 2023, the death toll has reached between 64,000 and 70,000 Palestinians as of September and October 2025. This figure, reported by sources including The Hindu, PBS, and a study published in The Lancet, represents approximately 2.8% of Gaza's pre-war population. Reuters also reported over 50,523 deaths by March 2025, while the Gaza Ministry of Health cited more than 43,300 fatalities over a 13-month period ending November 2024.

Meanwhile, Sudan's civil war, which began in April 2023, has also caused immense suffering and a significant loss of life. Estimates from the Council on Foreign Relations and the BBC indicate that as many as 150,000 people have been killed in Sudan since the conflict's onset by April 2025. The UN Human Rights Office documented 3,384 civilian deaths between January 1 and June 30, 2025, averaging approximately 130 fatalities per week during that half-year period.

While Sudan has witnessed horrific incidents, such as "hundreds" killed in short periods in July and August 2025—including 450 civilians in North Kordofan in one instance and 40 in a single attack on a displacement camp—these figures do not approach the cumulative tens of thousands recorded in Gaza over two years. Pavlou, known for his outspoken activism on human rights issues, made the statement on social media, drawing attention to the severe humanitarian crises in both regions.

The ongoing conflicts in both Sudan and Gaza represent profound humanitarian catastrophes, with millions displaced and facing critical shortages of food, water, and medical care. Accurate and verified data remains crucial for understanding the scale of these crises and informing international response efforts.