The Cycle of Unequal Deaths continues in the latest Israel-Hamas Conflict
In every major hostility between Israel and Hamas — 2008, 2012, 2014, 2021 and now, in 2023 — deaths in the Palestinian territories always outnumber those in Israel by a large margin. This long-standing pattern has been revealed by data compiled by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The number of deaths in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 has surpassed the total number of Palestinian deaths in the last 15 years resulting from conflicts with Israel, the data shows.
The current war in Gaza has proved to be the most deadly of many flashpoints between Israel and Hamas. Historically, it is Palestinians who are paying the highest price in terms of death and destruction.
With Palestinians bearing the brunt of the conflict, it is important to take a look at the disproportionate numbers. Since 2008, more than 18,600 Palestinians in Gaza and the occupied West Bank have been killed in conflicts with Israel, compared to at least 1,500 killed in Israel over the same period. Additionally, approximately 183,500 Palestinians have been wounded due to the conflicts, while approximately 11,700 in Israel have been injured, according to the UN data.
H.A. Hellyer, a specialist in international security studies, expressed concern over the asymmetric nature of the conflict, with Israel having far more destructive weapons than Palestinian militant groups. As a result, Israel consistently sees lower casualties than Palestine, since its rockets often hit uninhabited areas, while Israel’s targets densely populated areas.
After 16 years, Hamas is thoroughly entwined with civilian life in Gaza, making retaliation against Hamas hard to separate. This leads to the IDF claims that Hamas is using Palestinians as human shields and operating military facilities close to, and often beneath, civilian institutions.
The military conflict between Israel and Hamas is embedded in the dense population of Gaza, making it difficult to locate military targets without causing extensive civilian harm. This has led to an ongoing cycle of suffering for the people of Gaza, who have faced countless conflicts with Israel, resulting in spiraling casualties.
While the conflict continues to unfold, it is imperative to acknowledge the disproportionate consequences faced by the people of Palestine during attempts to eradicate Hamas.