A recent joint investigation by an Israeli magazine and a British newspaper has exposed the stark reality in Gaza: five out of every six people killed are civilians. Classified military data shows an 83% civilian death rate, an unusually high figure in conflict, challenging official claims that many victims are combatants. Retired military officials have described the army’s public figures as misleading, noting that thousands of victims are ordinary residents, while databases continue to list tens of thousands as “active fighters.”

The human toll is staggering. Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports that since the outbreak of the war, over 18,000 children, nearly 10,000 women, and more than 4,400 elderly people have lost their lives. Overall, more than 62,000 people have been killed and over 157,000 injured since October 2023, as hospitals struggle under crushing pressure and dwindling resources.

The pace of loss is relentless. According to official figures, a child dies every 40 minutes, with more than 540 children killed each month in recent months. Experts warn that these statistics reflect systematic attacks on civilians, leaving Gaza’s population in a state of ongoing devastation and profound humanitarian crisis.