Israel’s Military Claims 70,000 Palestinian Deaths in Gaza Invasion

The Israeli army estimates the number of deaths in the offensive launched in Gaza in October 2023 at around 70,000, according ⁢to ⁣a high-ranking Israeli official who spoke to military correspondents from national media outlets. This figure largely coincides with the toll provided by the Hamas government’s Ministry of Health, which the United Nations and other international organizations had been using as a reference point, but whose accuracy has been questioned by Israel and the united States. The Ministry of Foreign affairs of Benjamin Netanyahu’s government⁤ has described the figures as “misleading ‍and unreliable.”

The Gaza Ministry of Health, which compiles data from ‍hospitals ⁤and does‍ not distinguish between militants and‍ civilians, puts the number of deaths from the bombings and Israeli invasion since October 7, 2023, following the Hamas attack in which⁤ 1,200 Israelis were killed, at at ⁤least 71,667 people. More than 90%‍ of the bodies have been identified with name, age, ⁣gender and identification number. The United nations includes‍ these figures in its reports⁢ and they often coincide with the conclusions reached by ⁤autonomous researchers at the end of⁣ previous offensives in the⁣ Strip.

The source also specified, under anonymity, that it is trying to determine how manny “are⁣ members of terrorist groups.” ‍A⁢ classified database of Israeli military intelligence, revealed in August⁢ in a journalistic inquiry, put the⁣ percentage of civilians at 83%. In reality, Israel has barely tried to ⁣cast⁤ doubt on the credibility of the data from the Ministry in Gaza for months.

Acled,an independent association that monitors armed conflicts and receives support from the ⁣UN‍ and…