(Image source from: AP)
A year after the attack on Israel by Hamas, a counterattack on Gaza led to a regional conflict that recently spread to Lebanon. The death toll continues to rise, but the exact number remains uncertain due to discrepancies in the figures reported by the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry and logistical challenges in tracking the casualties. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the official source for the death toll, nearly 42,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war on October 7, 2023. The World Health Organization, United Nations, and Israeli government recognize the Gaza Health Ministry's data, although Israeli officials and researchers have heavily criticized the figures. The Ministry calculates the death toll based on reports from hospitals, morgues, media, first responders, and families of the deceased. However, the accurate tallying has been hindered by the destruction of data-keeping technology and infrastructure during the war, with an estimated 10,000 victims likely still buried in the rubble of destroyed buildings.
According to the director of Airwars, a group that monitors war casualties, some deaths in Gaza are not counted because entire families were wiped out, leaving no one to report their deaths. The non-governmental organization Airwars has also found that the death toll is likely underestimated, as some victims' names are missing from the Ministry's list. However, an independent researcher in Israel believes the death toll may be overcounted, as it could include people who are missing but not necessarily dead. In May, the Ministry updated its data, clarifying that around 25,000 of the 35,000 reported deaths were fully identified. Additionally, the Ministry revised its estimate of women and children among the fatalities, reducing it from 70% to around 60% of the total reported deaths, which has led to allegations of inaccuracies from Israeli officials.
It's common for the number of casualties to fluctuate in times of conflict. The death toll does not differentiate between civilians and fighters. The toll includes almost 16,756 children and over 10,000 people who have disappeared.
