Palestinian health authorities report that over 67,000 people have died in Israel’s ongoing campaign against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, with around a third of the casualties being children under 18. The conflict began after Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023, and has intensified in Gaza City, even amid discussions surrounding a new plan by U. S. President Donald Trump to end hostilities.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health’s latest figures show a significant increase in the death toll, with detailed statistics revealing 19,424 child deaths as of September 3. This toll is notably higher than in past conflicts in Gaza since 2005, according to Israeli human rights group B’Tselem. Initial death toll calculations relied on reported bodies in hospitals, leading to a more reliable count. However, as of May 2024, unidentified bodies were included, comprising nearly a third of the total count. Currently, the tally reflects only identified bodies.
There is a concern that the official counts may underrepresent the true number of casualties, particularly as many bodies may still be buried under rubble, and did not include numerous deaths attributed to famine conditions in North Gaza. A study published in The Lancet indicates that the Palestinian Ministry likely underestimated deaths by 40% during the first nine months of the conflict. The U. N.’s human rights office also suggests that the Palestinian figures are likely understated, with its verified data showing 40% of the fatalities were children and 22% women.
An inquiry by the U. N. recently claimed that Israel may have committed genocide in Gaza, which Israel rebuffed as biased. Public health experts have commented on Gaza’s previously robust health statistics despite Hamas’s governance. Discrepancies in death toll claims have arisen, with Israel questioning the credibility of Palestinian figures, claiming they are manipulated due to Hamas’s control.
The Israeli military reports that 466 soldiers have died and nearly 3,000 have been wounded since operations began on October 27, 2023. It maintains that it tries to avoid civilian deaths, alleging that Hamas uses civilians as shields. The conflict itself resulted in the death of approximately 1,200 individuals and the abduction of 251 others by Hamas, some of whom are believed to still be alive in Gaza. The casualty figures do not separate civilians from Hamas fighters, with the Israeli military estimating about 20,000 Hamas militants killed, although these figures remain contentious.
With information from Reuters