**Higher Death Toll Feared in Gaza War**
Researchers in the UK have made a startling claim: the death toll in the Gaza war could be much higher than what’s being reported by Hamas’ health ministry. The study, led by researchers at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, suggests that 64,260 Palestinians may have died from traumatic injuries by June 30th, 2024.
This number is significantly higher than the official figure of 37,877 deaths reported by the health ministry. In fact, the researchers estimate that there was a 41% under-reporting of deaths. The Israeli embassy in the UK has disputed these findings, stating that “any information derived from Gaza cannot be trusted” and that it serves Hamas.
The United Nations, however, considers the figures from the health ministry to be reliable. A UN report noted that most of the verified victims were women and children. Israel claims to have targeted only combatants and taken steps to minimize civilian casualties. However, the country’s restrictions on independent access to Gaza for international journalists make it difficult to verify facts on the ground.
**Conflicting Numbers**
The researchers used data from both the health ministry and an online survey asking relatives to report fatalities. They found that there was a significant overlap between different lists of deaths, suggesting that the actual number of deaths directly related to traumatic injuries may be higher than reported. The study’s results were published in The Lancet.
**Why is this Important?**
The Gaza war has been marked by intense fighting and widespread destruction. The conflicting numbers highlight the difficulty in getting accurate information from the conflict zone. The researchers’ findings could have significant implications for humanitarian efforts and international policy-making.