Israeli sources estimate that for every Hamas fighter killed, two civilians lose their lives in Gaza
For every Hamas fighter killed in the Gaza Strip, about two civilians were killed, senior Israeli military officials said Monday on condition of anonymity.
“I’m not saying it’s good that we have a two-to-one ratio,” an official said in a media interview, adding that the use of human shields was part of Hamas’ “basic strategy.” “It remains to be hoped that this proportion will be significantly lower in the next phase of the war,” he added.
The rising death toll and humanitarian crisis in Gaza have sparked global outrage. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza estimates that nearly 16,000 people have been killed in Israel’s campaign after October 7. According to Israel, on October 7, 1,200 people, mostly civilians, were killed by Hamas and about 240 people were kidnapped and taken to the Palestinian enclave.
Asked about reports that 5,000 Hamas fighters had been killed, one of the senior officials said: “The numbers are about that high.”
The United States, Israel’s main ally, has urged it to do more to prevent civilian casualties as operations shift south, where many Gazans have sought refuge after fleeing the devastated north.
The military is using high-tech mapping software to reduce non-combatant deaths, senior Israeli military officials said. The system integrates cellular signals, aerial monitoring and artificial intelligence to create a constantly updated map showing population concentration across the area.
Each of the map’s 623 cells is color-coded, with green indicating areas where at least 75% of the population has been evacuated. “As we have almost doubled the population in the south, operations are much more precise,” the official said. “We are taking much more time to ensure that our efforts (to warn civilians) are effective.” The map, the result of eight years of research, will be made available to commanders and units in the field, they added.
However, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has questioned the usefulness of such a tool in a region where access to telecommunications and electricity is sporadic. (AFP)