Discrepancies in Gaza Casualty Figures: An Analysis of Hamas Data By Associated Press

[Social Media]

 

A recent analysis by the Associated Press (AP) has exposed significant discrepancies in the casualty figures reported by the Gaza Health Ministry during the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. This revelation raises critical questions about the accuracy and reliability of the data that has been widely disseminated and referenced in international discussions and criticisms.

 

According to the AP's findings, the proportion of Gazan women and children killed during the conflict has been steadily declining, even as the overall death toll has increased. In October, the Ministry reported that 64 percent of the 6,745 people killed were women and children. By April, this figure had dropped to 38 percent. This decline contradicts the consistent narrative presented by the Gaza Health Ministry and has significant implications for understanding the impact of the conflict on civilians.

 

The AP's analysis was based on data shared by the Gaza Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilian and combatant deaths. This lack of differentiation has been a point of contention, as it complicates the ability to accurately assess the true civilian impact. The daily death toll reported by the Ministry—34,622 at the end of April and 36,379 at the end of May—is not accompanied by detailed underlying data, leading to questions about its validity.

 

The AP found that the figures publicized by the Ministry are significantly higher than those found in the detailed data, which only includes about 23,000 fully identified individuals. These identified individuals come with names, ages, genders, and Israeli-issued IDs. The Ministry stated that 9,940 of the dead—29 percent of its April total—were not listed in the data because they remain "unidentified." This category includes bodies that were not claimed by families, decomposed beyond recognition, or whose records were lost during Israeli raids on hospitals.

 

Moreover, the AP discovered that some of the identified bodies were listed twice, with 531 individuals counted twice in March and 11 in April. This duplication further undermines the reliability of the reported figures.

The discrepancies extend to public statements made by Gazan officials. In February, they claimed that 75 percent of those killed were women and children, a figure that was never verified in a detailed data breakdown. In March, the Ministry's daily reports claimed that women and children constituted 72 percent of the dead, even though underlying data reviewed by the AP showed a much lower percentage.

 

This analysis comes at a time when Israel faces mounting international criticism over the number of civilian casualties in Gaza. The Israeli government has repeatedly asserted that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are taking unprecedented measures to reduce civilian casualties. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in an interview last month, stated, "We use leaflets, we use millions of text messages, phone calls. We actually call the people, give up the benefit of surprise, tell them: 'Get out of the way. Get out of the war zone so that we can accomplish our military objectives while you’re in a safe place.'"

 

The Gaza Health Ministry is currently the only official source for Gazan casualties. The AP's analysis corroborates the findings of statisticians and researchers over the past several months, who have pointed to the "statistical impossibility" of the Health Ministry's widely quoted casualty data. This discrepancy highlights a critical issue: the need for independent verification and a more nuanced examination of official data from conflict zones.

 

The United Nations and other international bodies, which rely heavily on this data, may need to reassess how they interpret and respond to casualty figures. The discrepancies identified by the AP not only challenge the credibility of the Gaza Health Ministry's reports but also call into question the narratives that have shaped international perceptions and responses to the conflict.

 

Related Topics:

UN Cuts Death of Women and Children in Gaza by Half

Hamas admits one-third of its data on Gazan deaths is ‘incomplete’

Scrutiny Over Gaza Death Toll Figures: UK Statistics Watchdog Investigates Hamas's Data

How the Gaza Ministry of Health Fakes Casualty Numbers

 

Credit: The JC 2024-06-10

 

Get our Daily Newsletter - Click HERE to subscribe

 

 

[Neeranam]

I have trouble believing the Jewish Chronicle. 

[Bkk Brian]

2 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

I have trouble believing the Jewish Chronicle. 

You also have trouble reading, the source is Associated Press and the direct link is in the OP