MEDICAL experts have estimated that as many as 186,000 Palestinian deaths could be attributed to Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza.
Since the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, the Gaza Health Ministry states that 37,396 people have been killed in Gaza.
While the figures are disputed by Israeli authorities they are widely considered to be accurate by the United Nations and World Health Organisation.
However, according to medical researcher Rasha Khatib, public health expert Professor Martin McKee, and epidemiologist Professor Salim Yusuf, the conflict may be responsible for as many as four times as many deaths as currently reported.
In an article published by medical journal The Lancet, they state that “armed conflicts have indirect health implications beyond the direct harm from violence”.
“Even if the conflict ends immediately,” they said.
“There will continue to be many indirect deaths in the coming months and years from causes such as reproductive, communicable, and non-communicable diseases.
“The total death toll is expected to be large given the intensity of this conflict; destroyed health-care infrastructure; severe shortages of food, water, and shelter; the population's inability to flee to safe places; and the loss of funding to UNRWA, one of the very few humanitarian organisations still active in the Gaza Strip.
“Applying a conservative estimate of four indirect deaths per one direct death to the 37 396 deaths reported, it is not implausible to estimate that up to 186 000 or even more deaths could be attributable to the current conflict in Gaza.
“Using the 2022 Gaza Strip population estimate of 2 ,375 ,259, this would translate to 7·9% of the total population in the Gaza Strip.”
It comes after Palestinians in Gaza City reported experiencing one of the most intense Israeli bombardments since the attacks began in the wake of October 7.
