A recent independent population-based survey published in The Lancet Global Health reveals that the actual number of violent deaths in Gaza during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war is substantially higher than the official statistics provided by the Gaza Health Ministry. The study estimates that between October 7, 2023, and January 5, 2025, fatalities related to the conflict are about 35% more than the figures released by health officials. Researchers concluded that, as of January 5, 2025, approximately 3-4% of the population of the Gaza Strip, equating to around 75,000 individuals, had been killed violently, in addition to a significant number of indirect deaths as a result of the conflict.

To achieve these results, researchers conducted a survey involving 2,000 households that represented nearly 10,000 individuals across Gaza, including families that had been displaced and were living in areas that had become inaccessible due to ongoing violence. The findings paint a stark picture of the human cost of the conflict, challenging the reported data and emphasizing the severe impact on Gazan civilians.

The implications of this study are profound, suggesting that the local health ministry's reporting may significantly underrepresent the human toll of the conflict. This raises questions about the accuracy of conflict-related data in war zones and highlights the need for independent verification of statistics regarding casualties and humanitarian situations. As the conflict continues, understanding the true extent of its impact on the population becomes crucial for humanitarian efforts and policy-making.