How many civilians were killed in Gaza? Getting the numbers right is important -- not only for retrospective judgment, but also for future reference, particularly with regard to further minimizing civilian casualties. Read the article for context and analysis by Middle East expert Dr. David Pollock: http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/how-many-civilians-have-been-killed-in-gaza

1. No other number
is as contentious
as the ratio
of civilians to
combatants killed.
–Jodi Rudoren in the New York Times
“
”
HOW MANY
CIVILIANS
HAVE BEEN KILLED
GAZA?
read the article on
WashingtonInstitute.org

2. HOW MANY
CIVILIANS
HAVE BEEN KILLED
GAZA?
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WashingtonInstitute.org
The UN High
Commissioner
for Human Rights
reports that
Source: OCHA Gaza Emergency Situation Report, http://bit.ly/1oXc5i1, as of Aug. 19
72%
of Palestinian
fatalities are
civilians
16.7% (329)
Unidentified/No Status
71.7% (1,417)
Civilians
11.6% (230)
Armed Group Members
The official report cautions that
“Data on fatalities...[is] based
on preliminary information, and
is subject to change based on
further verifications.”

3. HOW MANY
CIVILIANS
GAZA?
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WashingtonInstitute.org
The Israel Defense Forces
claim that
1,068
terrorists
were killed in
targeted attacks.
That would mean
1 in 2
deaths was
a combatant.
TERRORISTS
“TARGETED” BY IDF
Hamas, 253
Palestinian Islamic Jihad, 147
Other Organizations, 65
Unknown Affiliation, 603
Source: IDF Blog, http://bit.ly/VjWXo2, Aug. 5
HAVE BEEN KILLED

4. HOW MANY
CIVILIANS
GAZA?
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WashingtonInstitute.org
DEFINITIONS MATTER
83%
civilian deaths
Palestinian Centre
for Human Rights
40%
civilian deaths
B’Tselem The Israeli
Information Center for Human
Rights in the Occupied Territories
“Israeli group B’Tselem has
adopted the most conserva-tive
approach, saying it is
only putting women, children
and men over 60...in the
civilian category for now.”-AP
“The PCHR says anyone who
is not effectively participating
in a military operation is a
civilian, including a Hamas
fighter who is killed at home
while taking a break.”-AP
Sources: PCHR, http://bit.ly/UcfwtE, updated Aug. 9; B’Tselem, http://bit.ly/1upbyO8, through Aug. 10; AP, http://bit.ly/1ysTXCB, Aug. 8
HAVE BEEN KILLED

5. HOW MANY
CIVILIANS
GAZA?
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WashingtonInstitute.org
Al-Jazeera’s “Naming the Dead” List
Source: Al-Jazeera, http://aje.me/1qnqjvJ, as of Aug. 13
specifies age and sex for 1,650
Palestinian names:
Female Male
0-4
5-9
10-14
15-19
20-24
25-29
30-34
35-39
40-44
45-49
50-54
55-59
60-64
65-70
70-74
75-79
80+
MEN
aged 20-29
account for
28%
of them.
This is the
demographic
most likely
to be militants.
HAVE BEEN KILLED

6. HOW MANY
CIVILIANS
GAZA?
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WashingtonInstitute.org
The New York Times earlier assessed that
the population most likely to be militants...
is also the most overrepresented
in the death toll.
Men Aged 20-29 Men Aged 20-29
9% 34%
Source: New York Times, http://nyti.ms/1obpUPC, Aug. 5
“
”
GAZA POPULATION GAZA FATALITIES
HAVE BEEN KILLED

7. In the end, the number or
proportion of civilian casualties
on either side cannot alone
determine right or wrong—or
even degree of responsibility
for this dimension of carnage.
–David Pollock
The Washington Institute
“
”
Read more “Six Ways Hamas
Could Limit Civilian Casualties”
HOW MANY
CIVILIANS
HAVE BEEN KILLED
GAZA?
read the article on
WashingtonInstitute.org