Confusion Surfaces Over Gaza Death Toll

In data published by the UN May 6, Palestinian casualties during the Israel-Hamas war were reported to be 34,735, more than 14,500 of those children and more than 9,500 of them women. Two days later, the UN published data with very different numbers: 4,959 women and 7,797 children. As USA Today explains, the UN explained the change as having to do with the Gaza Ministry of Health having complete details for only 24,686 of the total number of reported fatalities, which is higher than 34,000. The ministry says more than 10,000 of the casualties are "missing or under the rubble," and thus complete details cannot be given for them. The numbers published on May 8 reflect how many women and children are included in the fatalities for which the ministry does have complete details.

The ministry is controlled by Hamas, and some have expressed skepticism about the accuracy of its numbers, the Jerusalem Post reports. Elliott Abrams, a senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies at the think-tank Council on Foreign Relations, says in a blog post that the figures are clearly "Hamas propaganda." The UN always cites the ministry in its reports and includes a disclaimer warning that "the UN has so far not been able to produce independent, comprehensive, and verified casualty figures." It says it will verify the numbers "when conditions permit." (More Israel-Hamas war stories.)