After nearly eight months of war, Gaza’s health system is in disarray, with the majority of hospitals no longer functioning. Despite this, Hamas continues to provide daily updates on casualties, which many aid agencies and world leaders rely on for information. However, the U.N. recently admitted that the data coming from Gaza cannot be verified, leading to questions about the reliability of these figures. Israeli military experts have also expressed doubts about the accuracy of the information provided by Hamas officials.
When Israeli troops entered Gaza, Hamas officials, who had been monitoring casualties, went underground, causing a breakdown in communication with hospitals. As a result, the Ministry of Health began relying on media reports for casualty data, leading to a significant decrease in the credibility of the information. Only a few hospitals are still operational in Gaza, and the data being reported by Hamas is now being questioned by Israeli authorities and international organizations.
The World Health Organization has raised concerns about Hamas using one of Gaza’s hospitals as a headquarters, further calling into question the accuracy of the reported data. Despite these issues, many agencies, including the U.N., continue to cite the Hamas-published figures in their reports, although they acknowledge the limitations of their ability to independently verify the information. The U.N. is working to corroborate the data, but challenges remain due to the chaotic situation in Gaza.
Israeli government officials have reported significantly higher casualty figures than those provided by Hamas, indicating a lack of agreement on the total number of deaths. The State Department has acknowledged concerns about the accuracy of the data but emphasizes the tragic loss of civilian lives in Gaza. President Biden has expressed outrage at the high number of casualties, particularly among women and children, but questions remain about the reliance on unverified data.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza has highlighted the challenges of obtaining accurate information given the destruction of the health system and the politicization of casualty data by Hamas. The international community continues to rely on reports from Gaza, despite doubts about the accuracy of the information. As the situation unfolds, efforts are being made to verify the data and ensure that the true extent of the suffering in Gaza is understood.
