The⁤ Human⁣ Cost of Conflict

A ⁤haunting image captured by ​the Associated Press/NTB shows Ahmed ⁢al-Hajj carrying his 13-year-old daughter,⁢ Dana al-Hajj, to her final resting⁣ place in Deir Al-Balah, Gaza. Dana was tragically killed in an Israeli‍ attack this week, ⁤a stark reminder of the devastating human⁢ toll of the⁤ ongoing conflict.

Internal Data Paints a Grim Picture

Newly revealed data ⁤from Israel’s​ military⁤ intelligence, accessed ⁣through a collaborative investigation by The ​Guardian, +972, and Local Call, indicates that ⁤a staggering 83% of those killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza up to May 19th of this ‌year were civilians. This figure is based on facts within a detailed database operated by Israel’s Aman ⁤military intelligence service.

The database identifies⁣ approximately 8,900 ⁤combatants ⁤from Hamas and Islamic Holy War ⁣killed in Gaza as of May 19th. palestinian health authorities⁤ report a total⁤ of 53,000 deaths from Israeli attacks during the‌ same period -‌ a number corroborated by the ‌United nations and various aid organizations.

Recent Data corroborates High‌ Civilian Casualties

More recent figures ‍released by the Israeli army on Wednesday, August 20th, as reported by The Times of Israel,state that over 2,100⁤ Palestinian militants have been killed ‌since fighting resumed ⁢in march. However, Palestinian‍ health ⁢authorities report a total of 10,576 Palestinian deaths in the same​ timeframe. ​This suggests that approximately 80% of ⁣those killed as March were civilians, according to reporting from an online newspaper.

Database Confirmation and Contradictions

While the Palestinian Ministry ​of Health does not differentiate ⁣between combatants ‍and civilians in its casualty reports, utilizing the figures from the Israeli database ⁤reveals the exceptionally ⁢high proportion of civilian deaths ⁣- 83%. ​This is significantly higher than​ previously reported by Israeli military and⁢ political leaders,⁣ as noted by +972.

The Israeli army ‍has acknowledged the⁤ existence of the‍ Aman database but declined to ⁣validate the figures when questioned by The Guardian, stating simply that “the figures in the article ⁣do ⁣not match.” They have not provided clarification on the discrepancies between the ⁢data shared with +972 and The Guardian⁤ and their public statements.

Sources within Israeli intelligence, familiar with the database, have described⁣ it to +972 as the “only credible source of military loss information on the Palestinian side,” stating, “there is ⁤no other place to check.”

A Disturbing Trend in Modern Warfare

Experts‌ note that ⁤this proportion of ⁢civilian deaths is ‌exceptionally high for modern warfare. Therése Pettersson of the ​Uppsala Conflict Data Program, which tracks civilian casualties ⁣in‌ conflicts globally,⁤ stated to ​The ⁤Guardian, “This proportion‍ of civilians among those killed is unusually high,⁢ especially considering that it has been going on for so long.” ‌ Pettersson added that ⁣while similar ‍percentages can ‍be seen in specific⁤ incidents or cities ⁣within other conflicts, it is “very rare for a conflict as a whole.”