The Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health released an infographic indicating that it lacked identifying data for over 10,000 of the 34,183 martyrs killed in the 200 days following Hamas’ attack on Israel. Despite concerns of incomplete data entries, the Biden administration continues to cite the ministry’s data without verifying its accuracy. The Foundation for Defense of Democracies has urged the administration to evaluate the sources and accuracy of the data before referencing it in the future. The Ministry had grouped victims into categories based on their sources, with one group being victims reported by the Gazan hospital system and the other being those reported through media sources. There have been irregularities in the death toll reported through media sources, raising doubts about the accuracy of the numbers being reported.
Previously, the Ministry of Health had been criticized for vacillating numbers in its death toll as well as other irregularities in its reporting. There has been concern over whether the ministry accurately differentiates between natural deaths and deaths due to violence, as well as whether deaths from misfired Palestinian rockets are included in the toll. Questions have also been raised about the number of children included in Hamas’ death figures, since many Hamas fighters are under 18 years old. The lack of differentiation between military and civilian casualties is another issue, with estimates varying on the number of Hamas fighters killed in the conflict.
Adesnik has pointed out various other irregularities in the Ministry of Health’s data, including the lack of verification on whether they count deaths from misfired rockets and whether they accurately report deaths due to violence. The Biden administration has been criticized for citing the ministry’s data without verifying its accuracy, and calls have been made for the intelligence community to evaluate the data sources. The Ministry’s death counts have been questioned, with doubts raised about the accuracy of the numbers provided. Concerns have also been raised about the lack of differentiation between military and civilian casualties, and the manipulation of civilian fatality claims for strategic purposes by Hamas.
The international media and NGOs have been criticized for repeating Hamas’ claims of civilian casualties without proper scrutiny, potentially reinforcing propaganda efforts. The Ministry of Health’s inability to differentiate between military and civilian casualties has raised doubts about the accuracy of the death toll in Gaza. The Biden administration continues to cite the ministry’s data without verifying its accuracy, despite claims made by critics that the numbers are not accurate. The Ministry’s inconsistencies in reporting and sources of data have fueled skepticism over the reliability of the death toll provided.
In conclusion, the accuracy of the death toll in Gaza remains in question, with doubts raised about the Ministry of Health’s reporting methods and sources of data. The lack of differentiation between military and civilian casualties, as well as the manipulation of civilian fatality claims for strategic purposes, have raised concerns about the reliability of the numbers provided. The Biden administration’s use of the ministry’s data without verification has been criticized, and calls have been made for closer scrutiny of the sources and accuracy of the data. The international community must continue to assess the validity of the death toll in Gaza and ensure that accurate information is used in addressing the conflict.
