An open-source monitoring conducted by watchdog group Airwars has revealed a significant correlation between the civilian casualty data reported by the Palestinian Ministry of Health and information shared by Palestinian civilians online. According to the latest report by Airwars, during the period between October 7 and 24, a total of 3,259 civilians were killed in Gaza, with 75% of these victims also appearing on the official list of victims provided by the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
To arrive at these findings, Airwars' research team meticulously analyzed social media posts, statements from local news outlets, and reports from non-governmental organizations to identify individuals who lost their lives during the 17-day timeframe. By cross-referencing names and other biographical data, the analysts were able to match these reports with specific incidents documented by Airwars since the commencement of the Israeli offensive.
It is worth noting that the Palestinian Ministry of Health's statistics regarding civilian casualties in Gaza have faced challenges from some Israeli and American policymakers. The debate surrounding the scale of civilian casualties in Gaza has been a persistent issue throughout the conflict.
Joe Dyke, the Head of Investigations at Airwars, emphasized that the purpose of this investigation was not to provide a definitive answer on the exact number of civilian casualties but rather to contribute new evidence to the ongoing debate. Since October 7, the Ministry of Health has reported a total of 39,145 individuals killed and 90,257 injured due to Israeli military actions in the Gaza Strip. Notably, the ministry does not differentiate between combatants and civilians in its casualty figures.
