The Complexities of Counting Casualties in Gaza: A Journalist’s Perspective
The Gaza Ministry of Health reported on May 4 that a total of 34,654 people have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the start of hostilities on October 7. In the last 24 hours alone, 32 individuals were reported killed, with 77,908 others sustaining injuries of varying severity, including 41 in the last 24 hours. However, it is important to note that information from the Gaza Ministry of Health cannot be verified.
On the other hand, a study published by the Lancet in January suggested that the data from the Gaza Ministry of Health may be close to reality. Despite this, IDF reports have indicated that numerous militants from terrorist organizations are being eliminated on a daily basis in Gaza. The IDF estimates that approximately 14,000 militants and their commanders have been killed in Gaza since the beginning of the war, with Hamas acknowledging the deaths of around 6,000 of its fighters.
Reports from the Ministry of Health in Gaza do not differentiate between civilian and militant casualties and claim that all casualties are due to Israeli military operations. However, it is evident that many individuals die as a result of actions by militants from terrorist organizations or for other reasons not directly related to Israeli military operations in Gaza. It is crucial to consider different perspectives and sources when analyzing casualty figures in conflict zones like Gaza.
