New Analysis Of Gazan Casualties In Operation Protective Edge: As of July 23rd (Update)

Important Update: It has been discovered that the Al Jazeera list (based on Gaza Health Ministry data) has many duplicates, and hence has inflated the number of Gazans killed. Read here for more.

Following on from the Gazan casualties analysis I published on Sunday – which has been widely disseminated – comes this latest one, based on the casualties list published on Al Jazeera as of today, which contains the names and ages of 535 palestinians.

Note: The Al Jazeera list contains some palestinians of age unknown, or who are unidentified, or whose names are gender neutral, meaning some of this data is skewed. The reader who did the analysis states that “there may be more of a bias towards women then there should be.”

new graph1new graph2new graph3new graph4new graph5

Since the last analysis (which was based on approximately 200 fewer casualties):

  • Percentage of males killed has slightly fallen from approx 82% to 78%
  • The percentage of those males killed, who were of combat age (18-28)* has fallen from approx 50% to 44%. Meaning, the total percentage of those killed who most fit the profile of a possible combatant has fallen from 41% to 34%
  • The percentage of males in the 29-48 age group (which also conceivably contains combatants) has more or less remained stable at 20%.
  • The percentage of children killed has risen from 18.6% to 19.5%

The new figures – like those of the previous analysis – bring into question how many of those killed were really innocent civilians, and still indicate that Israel has not been indiscriminately killing Gazans.

One would imagine, if Israel was purposely trying to kill Gazan civilians, 18-28 year-old men would not make up so many of the deaths. The percentage of women would be way higher than 22% (since they make up almost half the population), and the percentage of children killed would be way higher than approximately 20%, given nearly 50% of Gazans are under 14.

Also, compare these figures to those published by the UN:

  • 599 palestinians killed
  • 443 civilians (74%)
  • 147 children (25%)
  • 74 women (12%)

* Although as we have seen, young children have been used as combatants

38 thoughts on “New Analysis Of Gazan Casualties In Operation Protective Edge: As of July 23rd (Update)”

  1. What do you care who’s killed? Just as long as their deaths can be justified. Isn’t every resident of the Gaza Strip an enemy Israel?

    1. Not sure if you are a troll or not, but no, we are trying to minimize civilian casualties, made hard by Hamas’ cynical use of human shields

  2. Jim from Iowa

    This is useful information. I agree that this data supports the conclusion that Israel does not indiscriminately kill Palestinian civilians. However, the data also support what western media have been reporting: that well over half of the Palestinian deaths during Operation Protective Edged have been civilians.

    1. Look at the figures the UN provided, for example. 74% civilians. No way.

      Also, the data is based on Al Jazeera, based on the Gaza Health Ministry, which is inherently biased against Israel.

      In any event, the civilian kill ratio is way lower than could be expected in such a conflict, especially considering Hamas’ tactics.

      1. Jim from Iowa

        Dave, I can easily discount the lies Hamas spreads. What is more difficult to discount are western media reports of high civilian casualty rates. Why are you convinced that the UN figure of 74% civilian casualty rate is inaccurate?

        1. Because we do not know which of those casualties are terrorists/militants. EoZ’s research after Cast Lead and Pillar of Defence demonstrated at least 50% of those named were combatants.
          And because we do not know how many of those civilians died, either as a result of secondary explosions or simply rocket fire falling short. In both those scenarios, the deaths are not Israel’s fault but the terrorists.

          1. It is delusional not to face the reality that large numbers of Palestinians have died during Operation Protective Edge, a significant proportion of whom are civilians. Instead grasping at straws or sticking your head in the sand, you should be encouraging the IDF to make every effort to minimize civilian casualties so that the objectives of Operation Protective Edge can be achieved. Who’s side are you on, anyway?

            1. The task of the IDF is to achive their goals and not to avoid dead “civilians” at all costs (something even those in charge of the operation seem to forget). Their task is to ensure no Israelis are going to die. To care for “Palestinian” “civilians” is the business of their leaders, not ours.

                1. “Jewish tradition”? Are we talking about a moral, symmetric (a word that so many leftists and neo-liberals like so much) warfare? About Milkhemet Reshut? No! Here we are dealing with a brutal enemy who seeks our destruction. Hence, it’s Milkhemet Mitzvah

                  And there is also the issue as to whether the Gazan Arabs may be considered Amalek. Because if they are, there is a commandment to exterminate them, if you wish to strictly adhere to Halacha.

                  In the linked article they are talking about the Din Rodef, which may or may not be applicable in this case, as Din Rodef primarily concerns a threatening individual. Here we have a case where an entire society is at war with us.

                  1. Hi unplugged, thanks for your thoughtful reply and I think I can safely say “Lantsman! Lantsman!”

                    I have to disagree with your last sentence, which is the foundation of all your arguments, but I do agree this is part of an ongoing Milkhemet Mitzvah to defend ourselves against all those who seek to destroy us. However,
                    I think you overlook the fact that a non-trivial percentage of Gazans want nothing to do with but are held hostage by Hamas and the other terrorist groups. There are individuals and families on both sides of the border that maintain regular contact with each other and want nothing more than to live in peace. Anyone who has visited the border kibbutzim and talked with the people who live there know this. So it is not an ‘entire society’ that is at war with us. Even though it feels that way. Because of this I don’t think you can make a psak that Gazan Arabs can be considered Amalek. It might be a better agument to say that Hamas is a grouping of individuals each of whom have murderous intent (we certainly know that part for a fact) and therefore Din Rodef applies.

                    Kol Tuv
                    B’yedidut

    2. It also does not give ANY information about how many are casualties of Israel, and how many are due to Hamas rockets falling short, killed by Hamas bullets (either in the crossfire or because they were trying to evacuate), killed in “work accidents” etc.

  3. I wonder how many of those were killed by rockets that fell short, Hamas executions or “friendly” fire.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top