A new study led by an international research team, including economists and epidemiologists from London University and other institutions, found that the death toll in Gaza since the outbreak of conflict on October 7, 2023, is estimated to be around 75,000, which contrasts sharply with the 49,090 reported by the Hamas-run Health Ministry. This research was published in the medical journal 'The Lancet Global Health' and highlights claims from the Israeli government suggesting that the Health Ministry significantly inflated the death toll have been contradicted. The study indicates that the actual number of deaths could be underreported due to various reasons.

The research also noted that an additional 8,200 deaths might be attributed to indirect consequences of the conflict, such as malnutrition and untreated diseases, which further complicates the death assessments related to the violence. The researchers emphasize that between 3 to 4% of Gaza's population died directly from the violence and that there is a need to understand the indirect effects of the ongoing conflict on health and mortality rates. The methodology involved surveying 2,000 households to gather data on family deaths, using Palestinian survey experts to ensure that sensitive inquiries were handled appropriately.

This study aligns with previous findings published in 'The Lancet' last year, which indicated that for a nine-month period following the onset of the Gaza war, the Health Ministry's reported figures were approximately 40% lower than what was estimated based on the actual death toll. This continuous divergence in numbers raises further questions about the accuracy of casualty figures from conflict zones and underscores the importance of robust methodologies in public health assessments during crises.