The death toll in Gaza, reported by Palestinian health authorities, stands at over 39,000 people as of July 25, 2024. This figure primarily includes civilians, though there are varying estimates about the number of fighters among the deceased.
Calculation and Reliability
- Initial Method: Early counts were based on bodies arriving at hospitals, with most data including names and identities.
- Updated Methods: With fewer operational hospitals and morgues, the Health Ministry began including unidentified bodies and online reports from family members.
- Estimates: Some indirect deaths, caused by factors like disease, might significantly raise the actual toll. Estimates from The Lancet and other sources suggest a potentially higher figure, possibly exceeding 186,000.
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Credibility
- Accuracy: Studies by organizations like Airwars and the UN show strong correlation with Gazan authority figures for early casualties, though there has been some degradation in accuracy over time.
- Verification: The World Health Organization and the UN have expressed confidence in the Health Ministry’s data, but specific incidents, such as the al-Ahli al-Arab hospital blast, have led to questions about exact numbers.
Control and Claims
- Hamas Influence: Hamas, which governs Gaza, influences the Health Ministry, though it also reports to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank. The extent of Hamas’s control is complicated by ongoing Israeli occupation and conflict.
- Israeli Perspective: Israel questions the figures, citing potential manipulation by Hamas but acknowledges that overall numbers are broadly reliable. The Israeli military estimates that around 14,000 Hamas fighters and 16,000 civilians have been killed, though these figures are contested.
The figures are a mix of confirmed deaths and estimates, with significant challenges in distinguishing between civilian casualties and combatants due to the nature of the conflict.
