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Secret Israeli Database Reveals Civilian Death Toll Discrepancy
A classified Israeli military intelligence database obtained by investigative journalists reveals that over 83% of casualties in Gaza since October 2023 have been civilians, contradicting official Israeli government claims. The data, analyzed by +972 Magazine, Local Call, and The Guardian, shows that of the approximately 47,600 Hamas and Islamic Jihad members listed in the database, only about 8,900 were confirmed killed by May 2025.
Significant Discrepancy in Official Claims
At the time the database was accessed, the Gaza Health Ministry reported 53,000 total deaths, meaning 83% were civilian casualties. This stands in stark contrast to repeated assertions by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and military spokespersons who claimed nearly equal numbers of combatants and civilians had been killed.
Escalating Death Toll and International Scrutiny
The death toll has since risen to over 62,000 according to Gaza health authorities, with the percentage of civilian casualties potentially increasing further. International legal experts emphasize that such high civilian casualty rates could constitute war crimes under international law.
Legal Implications and International Response
Marieke de Hoon, Associate Professor of International Criminal Law at the University of Amsterdam, stated: "When civilian casualties occur so systematically, it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain that this is not an attack on the civilian population. An attack on civilians qualifies as both a war crime and a crime against humanity."
Kyra Wigard, lecturer in international criminal law at Utrecht University, compared the situation to historical tragedies: "Similar circumstances we only see in the most tragic cases: Rwanda, Srebrenica, and recently Mariupol. All three were investigated by international tribunals."
Ongoing Military Operations
The revelations come as Israel continues its offensive in Gaza City, where hundreds of thousands of civilians remain. Prime Minister Netanyahu recently announced plans to expand military operations with the stated goals of defeating Hamas and securing the release of hostages.
International Criminal Court Investigation
The International Criminal Court has been investigating potential war crimes in Palestine since 2019, with recent developments including arrest warrants issued for Israeli leaders in November 2024. The newly revealed data is expected to play a significant role in ongoing international legal proceedings.
