How Gaza's ministry of health is calculating the death toll during the Israel-Hamas war
FirstpostThe Gaza-based ministry of health released its first detailed report on the casualties Thursday, stating that 7,028 Palestinians have been killed, including 2,913 minors Death and destruction in Gaza continues as the Israel-Hamas conflict entered the 21st day. The Health Ministry doesn’t report how Palestinians were killed, whether from Israeli airstrikes and artillery barrages or other means, like errant Palestinian rocket fire. Throughout four wars and numerous bloody skirmishes between Israel and Hamas, UN agencies have cited the Health Ministry’s death tolls in regular reports. While Israel and the Palestinians disagree over the numbers of militants versus civilians killed in past wars, Israel’s accounts of Palestinian casualties have come close to the Gaza ministry’s. For instance, Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the 2014 war killed 2,125 Palestinians — just a bit lower than the ministry’s toll.