Tel Aviv, Israel – The conflict in Gaza continues to raise concerns over civilian casualties as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claim to have killed more than 10,000 Hamas fighters in response to attacks that resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people. The IDF emphasizes the precision of their operations and the efforts to minimize civilian casualties, while also facing criticism for the high number of civilian deaths.
In a statement released by the IDF, they defended their tactics, stating that they are targeting Hamas fighters and infrastructure while trying to avoid civilian casualties. However, there are doubts about the accuracy of their claims, as President Joe Biden expressed concern over Israel’s indiscriminate bombing. The concern stems from the difficulty of separating fighters from ordinary civilians in the densely populated area of Gaza.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has vouched for the credibility of the death toll reported by Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, which stands at over 30,000 fatalities. The ministry’s data collection capacity has been deemed reliable, but it does not differentiate between civilians and combatants among those killed.
Experts have raised questions about Israel’s claim of killing 10,000 fighters, especially since more than 70% of the fatalities in Gaza are women and children, according to the health ministry’s data. The lack of clarity on how the IDF arrived at their casualty figures has led to skepticism and calls for transparency.
Despite repeated requests from BBC Verify, the IDF has not provided detailed methodology on counting Hamas fighter deaths. The discrepancy in reported numbers, with the IDF claiming around 10,000 fighters killed while other sources suggest higher figures, adds to the complexity of assessing the true impact of the conflict.
The conflict has also highlighted challenges in distinguishing combatant casualties from civilian deaths, especially with Hamas’s presence in tunnels and the use of civilians as shields. The significant number of civilian casualties, particularly among women and children, has raised concerns about the proportionate targeting of Hamas fighters.
As the conflict rages on, human rights organizations and aid agencies warn of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with hospitals struggling to operate and concerns rising over food scarcity and disease. The unprecedented scale of the current conflict has underscored the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to prevent further loss of life and suffering in the region.