Wed Sep 25 02:34:59 UTC 2024: ## Gaza Health Ministry Reports Over 41,000 Killed in War, But Figures Face Scrutiny

**Gaza City** – The health ministry in Gaza has reported over 41,467 deaths since the war erupted following Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7th. While UN agencies have vouched for the figures’ reliability, concerns regarding their accuracy have been raised by Israel and the United States.

The ministry, which predates Hamas’s control of Gaza, maintains a comprehensive database that relies on a multi-layered system. Information is gathered from public and private hospitals, with staff recording details of deceased individuals, including names, ID numbers, and any distinguishing marks. The data is then verified and sent to a central registry.

An investigation conducted by Airwars, an NGO focused on civilian casualties, found a “high correlation” between the ministry’s data and publicly reported deaths, although accuracy was found to decline as the war intensified. The study attributed this to the heavy damage to health infrastructure.

Despite concerns about data accuracy, Israel has not disputed the overall number of fatalities. However, they have criticized the lack of distinction between combatants and civilians. Meanwhile, the UN has defended the figures, stating they are credible based on past conflict data.

The current war was triggered by Hamas’s October 7th attack on Israel, resulting in the deaths of over 1,205 people, mostly civilians, according to AFP’s tally based on Israeli official figures.

The ongoing conflict continues to fuel debate over the accuracy of death toll statistics, highlighting the difficulties in accurately documenting casualties during war, particularly in a conflict zone with limited access and ongoing hostilities.

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