Gaza's death toll 41% higher than official figures

Data from the Palestinian Ministry of Health, its online survey, and social media obituaries are used in the report, which was released on Thursday by The Lancet medical journal.

The study calculates that between October 7, 2023, and June 30, 2024, "traumatic injuries" killed between 55,298 and 78,525 Palestinians. The ministry reported 37,877 people dead by June 30.

The study’s best estimate puts the number of deaths at 64,260 by that date, representing nearly 3 percent of Gaza’s pre-war population.

Additionally, it revealed that women, children, and the elderly accounted for 59% of the fatalities.

However, deaths resulting from a lack of access to healthcare, food shortages, or people thought to be buried beneath debris are not included in the Lancet figures.

The Palestinian health ministry said earlier this week that since the war started on October 7, more than 46,000 people have died.