Jerusalem, Israel – The conflict between Israel and Gaza has raised growing concerns about the high number of civilian fatalities, with reports indicating over 30,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza. The Israeli military claims to have targeted more than 10,000 fighters in its air strikes and ground operations in response to a Hamas attack that resulted in the deaths of around 1,200 people.
Critics have questioned the Israeli military’s ability to distinguish between combatants and civilians, with President Joe Biden expressing concerns over the indiscriminate bombing in the region. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) maintain that they are making efforts to minimize civilian casualties while targeting Hamas fighters and infrastructure.
Hamas, on the other hand, has not provided specific figures on its military fatalities. The accuracy of the death toll reported by Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry has been acknowledged by the World Health Organization (WHO), although the data does not differentiate between civilians and combatants.
Experts have noted a significant increase in civilian deaths, particularly among women and children, in the current conflict compared to previous wars. The demographics of those killed align closely with Gaza’s population breakdown, leading to concerns about indiscriminate killing and the impact on civilians.
The IDF’s claims of killing 10,000 fighters have faced scrutiny, with experts questioning the methodology used to arrive at this figure. The lack of clarity on how combatant casualties are counted has led to doubts about the accuracy of the reported numbers.
Additionally, there are challenges in distinguishing between civilians and combatants, as some individuals affiliated with Hamas may not be actively involved in fighting but could still be targeted. The use of tunnels by Hamas and the absence of operational hospitals to record deaths have also complicated efforts to accurately assess the true scale of the conflict’s impact.
Human rights organizations have highlighted the unprecedented scale of the current conflict, with B’tselem stating that the level of casualties far exceeds previous conflicts in the region. The ongoing violence has raised concerns about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with international aid organizations warning about the potential for starvation and disease outbreaks.
As the conflict continues, efforts to monitor and accurately report on casualties remain crucial in understanding the full extent of the crisis. The complexities of the situation underscore the importance of transparency and accountability in addressing the humanitarian consequences of the conflict.