Tel Aviv, Israel – Authorities in Israel are facing increasing scrutiny over the rising number of civilian casualties amid the conflict with Gaza. Recent reports indicate that over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed, prompting questions about the accuracy of Israel’s claims regarding combatant fatalities.
The Israeli military asserts that it has targeted more than 10,000 fighters in response to attacks by Hamas, resulting in approximately 1,200 civilian deaths. However, concerns have been raised regarding the ability to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants in the conflict zone.
President Joe Biden has expressed concerns over the civilian casualties and the impact on international support for Israel in the wake of indiscriminate bombing. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) maintain that they are making efforts to minimize civilian deaths while targeting Hamas fighters and infrastructure.
Hamas, on the other hand, has not disclosed the number of its fighters killed in the conflict. Discrepancies in casualty figures highlight the challenges of accurately determining combatant fatalities amidst the ongoing violence.
The World Health Organization has vouched for the credibility of Gaza’s health ministry data, which indicates a high proportion of women and children among the casualties. Experts question Israel’s claim of eliminating 10,000 fighters, citing the demographic breakdown of the victims.
Despite efforts by BBC Verify to obtain detailed methodology from the IDF on counting combatant deaths, no response has been provided. The discrepancies in figures and the challenges of identifying combatants in a complex conflict zone remain points of contention in the ongoing conflict.