Israeli military says 2 civilians killed for every militant is ‘tremendously positive’ ratio given Gaza combat challenges
CNNCNN — Israel believes that it has killed two Palestinian civilians for every Hamas militant in its intense campaign to eliminate the armed group from the Gaza Strip, a ratio an IDF spokesperson described to CNN Monday as “tremendously positive.” The AFP news agency first reported the Israeli assessment on Monday, citing a briefing for foreign media by senior Israeli military officials. Asked about reports that about 5,000 Hamas militants had been killed since October 7, one of the officials replied, according to AFP: “The numbers are more or less right.” Asked by CNN’s Erin Burnett about the details that emerged in the briefing, IDF spokesperson Jonathan Conricus said: “I can confirm the report.” Conricus cited the challenges of fighting in a densely populated area. Conricus added: “I can say that if that is true – and I think that our numbers will be corroborated – if you compare that ratio to any other conflict in urban terrain between a military and a terrorist organization using civilians as their human shields, and embedded in the civilian population, you will find that that ratio is tremendous, tremendously positive, and perhaps unique in the world.” Contacted later by CNN, Conricus sought to clarify his remarks, saying the IDF could not confirm the numbers cited by AFP and had only meant to say he had seen the news agency’s report. Democratic Congressman Seth Moulton, a member of the House Armed Services Committee who served in Iraq, told CNN Conricus’ comments were “dead wrong,” adding that Israel’s actions in Gaza risked creating more Hamas militants.