A recent study by the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has found that the death toll in Gaza is significantly higher than reported by authorities. The research estimated 64,260 “traumatic injury deaths” between October 2023 and June 2024, exceeding the Palestinian Ministry of Health’s figure of 37,877 by approximately 41%. This underreporting rate suggests that around 70,000 Gazans have been killed due to violence.
The study, published in The Lancet journal, used a statistical method known as “capture-recapture analysis” to estimate the death toll. It analyzed data from multiple sources, including hospital morgue records, online surveys, and obituaries on social media. The researchers found that around 3% of Gaza’s population has died due to violence, with 59% of those being women, children, and the elderly.
The discrepancy between the study’s findings and the Ministry of Health’s figures reflects the destruction of Gaza’s healthcare infrastructure during Israel’s ongoing bombardment of the enclave. The research highlights the urgent need for interventions to safeguard civilians and prevent further loss of life.
Israel’s 14-month war in Gaza has decimated large parts of the enclave, destroyed key healthcare infrastructure, and placed an enormous strain on hospitals. A recent report by Human Rights Watch found that Israel had deliberately deprived Palestinians in Gaza of access to clean water, fueling disease spread and deaths likely in the thousands.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/09/middleeast/gaza-death-toll-underreported-study-intl/index.html