CNN –
Israel believes it has killed two Palestinian civilians for every Hamas fighter as part of its intensive campaign to eliminate the Gaza armed group. An IDF spokesman described this relationship to CNN on Monday as “extremely positive.”
The AFP news agency first reported the Israeli assessment on Monday, citing a briefing for foreign media by senior Israeli military officials.
Asked by CNN’s Erin Burnett about the details revealed in the briefing, IDF spokesman Jonathan Conricus said: “I can confirm the report.” Conricus noted the challenges of fighting in a densely populated area.
Nearly 16,000 people have died since October 7, according to the Hamas-controlled Ministry of Health in Gaza. The ministry’s figures do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. Conricus’ testimony suggests that more than 10,000 civilians died in the conflict.
Conricus added: “I can say that if this is true – and I think our numbers are borne out – if you compare this ratio to any other conflict in urban terrain between a military and a terrorist organization using civilians as human shields, and “Embedded in the civilian population, you will find that this relationship is enormous, enormously positive and perhaps unique in the world.”
According to the AFP report, an unidentified Israeli official said it was hoped the ratio would be “much lower” in the next phase of the war. “I’m not saying it’s not bad that we have a two-to-one ratio,” the official was quoted as saying.
The IDF estimates that Hamas consisted of around 30,000 fighters before October 7, when it launched an unprecedented attack on Israel, killing more than 1,200 people and taking more than 240 hostage. In response, Israel has vowed to eliminate the group once and for all.
Barak Ravid, a political and foreign policy analyst at CNN, said Conricus’ comments about the “positive” ratio of civilian to militant casualties may not have been a “good choice of words.”
“I don’t think the fact that 10,000 civilians were (killed) is in any way positive,” Ravid told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, adding that “Israel has been faced with a dilemma in the last 24 hours.” Addresses increasing government pressure The United States is calling for more humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant told reporters during a news conference on Saturday that the military had killed “thousands of terrorists.” The Israeli military has not officially released any estimates of the number of those killed.
AFP reported that when asked to confirm reports that some 5,000 Hamas fighters had been killed, the Israeli military official replied: “The numbers are more or less correct.”
It is not clear how Israel defines Hamas fighters. Thousands of Gazans are employed in Hamas-run government agencies but perform civilian roles. CNN has reached out to the IDF for further comment.
More people have died in the current war than in any of Israel’s previous conflicts with Hamas or other Islamist militants in the Gaza Strip.
According to the United Nations, 2,251 Palestinians were killed during the 50 days of hostilities in Gaza in 2014, of which 1,462 are believed to have been civilians. This corresponds to a ratio of 1.8 civilians to every non-civilian.
A senior U.S. State Department official told Congress last month that while it was difficult to determine the number of casualties during the conflict, she believed the actual death toll could be even higher than is publicly discussed .
“It is very difficult for any of us to estimate the number of victims,” said Barbara Leaf, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. “We think they are quite high, quite frankly. And it could be that they are even higher than stated. We won’t know until the guns fall silent.”
The US is putting pressure on Israel to limit civilian casualties as outrage grows over the death toll worldwide and in the US.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stressed on Saturday that protecting civilians in Gaza is crucial to Israel’s long-term success against Hamas.
“In a fight like this, the focus is on the civilian population,” he said. “And when you drive them into the arms of the enemy, you replace a tactical victory with a strategic defeat.”
Austin’s comments came the day after Israel resumed fighting against Hamas in Gaza.
Austin added that he had “personally urged Israeli leaders to avoid civilian casualties” and “steered clear of irresponsible rhetoric” while expanding access to humanitarian aid.