A recent study published in The Lancet medical journal suggests that the Palestinian death toll from the war in Gaza could be substantially higher than official figures reported by the Hamas-run health ministry. The UK-led study, which covered the first nine months of the war, estimated that up to 64,260 Palestinians died from traumatic injury, indicating an under-reporting of deaths by 41%.
The researchers used data from the health ministry, online surveys, and obituaries to estimate. In contrast, the health ministry reported 37,877 deaths, while the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) claimed to have “eliminated over 17,000 terrorists”.
The study’s findings are alarming, suggesting that the actual death toll could be between 55,298 and 78,525 people. Furthermore, the research revealed that 59% of those killed were women, children, and the elderly. The UN has reported that the majority of verified victims over six months were women and children.
The discrepancy in death tolls raises concerns about the accuracy of official reports. The Israeli embassy in the UK has questioned the reliability of information from Gaza, while the UN treats the health ministry’s figures as reliable. The lack of independent access to Gaza for international journalists has made verifying the facts on the ground difficult.
The study’s lead author, Zeina Jamaluddine, emphasized the urgent need for interventions to safeguard civilians and prevent further loss of life. As the situation in Gaza continues to unfold, the true extent of the humanitarian crisis remains uncertain, highlighting the need for accurate and reliable reporting.
