In the recent escalation of hostilities between Israel and the militant group Hamas, the Gaza Strip has seen an uptick in military activity, leading to a significant number of casualties. The exact figures, especially among the civilian population, have been contested amid conflicting reports from both sides.
According to a conversation with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), initial figures provided to Newsweek show a substantial number of deaths, although Hamas has put forward a much higher casualty count, claiming upwards of 20,000 individuals have died.
Earlier reports from Newsweek indicated that Israeli authorities believed the conflict had resulted in the deaths of 5,000 militants and twice as many civilians since the outbreak of hostilities, which began with a surprise attack by Hamas on October 7. The attack was reported to have led to substantial casualties in Israel as well. However, these IDF figures, also mentioned in reports by Agence France-Presse, have not been definitively confirmed.
IDF spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus addressed the casualty ratio being discussed in media reports during a press briefing, reiterating the previously mentioned estimates of militant casualties and recognizing the civilian death toll figures being circulated. He emphasized that the IDF’s actions are not the primary cause of civilian deaths, instead suggesting that Hamas’s operational choices, such as positioning within civilian locales, significantly contribute to non-combatant fatalities.
Hamas has rebuffed such allegations, arguing that the IDF’s direct actions and tactics, like targeting medical facilities, lead inexorably to the high numbers of civilian casualties. The group specifically cited a recent assault on a hospital in the northern part of Gaza.
The IDF has maintained its stance on the casualty data, contrasting its reported ratio of combatant to non-combatant deaths with those from other military conflicts around the globe, implying a far more favorable outcome in the context of urban combat.
These events occur as Israeli forces extend their military actions into the southern regions of Gaza, prompting evacuation calls for more than a million residents in advance of a ground assault.
The situation has drawn remarks from top U.S. officials, including President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. All have called for a reduction in civilian harm while voicing support for Israel’s broader strategic objectives against Hamas. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller echoed the need for protecting civilians and lauded the IDF’s professional standards and procedures aimed at minimizing civilian casualties.
As the conflict continues, the IDF has estimated just over 400 of its own personnel have been killed, many during the first surge of the conflict, with additional losses following the ground offensives. Meanwhile, Hamas has not released details on its own military casualties.
The international community watches with concern as the toll on human life rises, with the White House and other countries urging both sides to consider the grave humanitarian implications of the ongoing fighting.