Israeli Military's Data Reveals Alarming Civilian Casualty Rate in Gaza

Strategic Insights -

The Israeli military's data has led to a stark reality, as five out of six Palestinians killed in Gaza have been civilians. This staggering civilian-to-combatant ratio is a grim reflection of the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region. The Gaza Strip, already reeling from a dire economic situation, is now facing famine, with the world's leading authority on food crises warning that it may spread across the territory if a ceasefire and an end to restrictions on humanitarian aid do not occur.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Israeli military's classified database indicates that 8900 named fighters from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have been killed or "probably dead" in May, while 53,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks.
  • This data suggests a civilian-to-combatant ratio of 83% to 17%, a stark contrast to global conflicts tracked by the Uppsala Conflict Data Program since 1989, where civilians made up a greater proportion of the dead only in the Srebrenica genocide, the Russian siege of Mariupol, and the Rwandan genocide.
  • The Israeli military did not dispute the existence of the database or the data on Hamas and PIJ deaths, but was reported to have disputed the accuracy of the data when approached by The Guardian.
  • The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has determined that famine is occurring in Gaza City, home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians, and could spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of next month.
  • Aid groups have been warning that Israel's restrictions on food and other aid into Gaza, and its ongoing military operations, are causing high levels of starvation among Palestinian civilians, particularly children.

Statistics:

  • 8900 named fighters from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad have been killed or "probably dead" in May (The Guardian)
  • 53,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli attacks (Gaza Health Authorities)
  • 83% of those killed in Gaza are civilians, according to the Israeli military's classified database (The Guardian)
  • Only 17% of those killed in Gaza are combatants, according to the Israeli military's classified database (The Guardian)
  • Famine is occurring in Gaza City, home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification)
  • Famine is predicted to spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of next month (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification)

Sources:

  • The Guardian (2023) - "Israeli military's data reveals 'unprecedented' civilian casualty rate in Gaza"
  • +972 Magazine (2023) - "IDF did not respond to request for comment on database, but disputed data on Hamas and PIJ deaths"
  • Local Call (2023) - "Israeli military did not dispute existence of database, but disputed data on Hamas and PIJ deaths"
  • Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) (2023) - "Famine Determination in the Gaza Strip"