The death toll in Gaza due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is thought to be 40% higher than previously reported, according to a new study published in The Lancet. The research suggests that around 1,000 more deaths occurred than those officially documented between 2008 and 2018. This discrepancy is predominantly due to the underreporting of indirect deaths, which are fatalities that occur as a result of infrastructure destruction, such as the damage done to hospitals or lack of access to necessary health services.
The researchers used an innovative method of statistical modeling to make these estimates, which involved combining data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and other sources. The team, led by Dr. Ghassan Abu Sitta, a surgeon and academic at American University of Beirut and King's College London, factored in the indirect deaths that are often omitted from official counts.
Indirect deaths include those caused by the destruction of health facilities, the impact of attacks on water and sanitation systems, and the consequences of the blockade on Gaza, which can prevent people from accessing necessary medical care. The study also highlights the devastating impact of the conflict on the mental health of Palestinians, documenting a significant rise in suicides and self-harm incidents.
The results of the study are deeply concerning and underscore the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The actual death toll is likely even higher, as the study did not account for deaths among the elderly, who are particularly vulnerable to the indirect effects of conflict, or for deaths that occur after the immediate post-conflict period.
The report concludes that an accurate accounting of the death toll, including indirect deaths, is essential for understanding the full impact of the conflict and for planning humanitarian responses. It also emphasizes the need for the international community to take action to end the blockade on Gaza and to ensure that Palestinians have access to the necessary health services.