The staggering human cost of the Israel-Hamas War is coming into sharper focus, with the IDF now estimating nearly 70,000 Gazans have perished. But here's where it gets controversial: the IDF is strongly refuting claims that starvation has been a cause of death.
For the first time, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have publicly stated that an estimated 70,000 Gazans lost their lives during the conflict. This figure, however, comes with a significant caveat from the IDF, which is challenging the widely reported percentages of civilian casualties and asserting that no healthy individuals have died from starvation.
International organizations and some media outlets have presented figures suggesting a very high proportion of civilian deaths. The IDF, however, contends this narrative, estimating that approximately 25,000 of the deceased were Hamas terrorists. Furthermore, the IDF has presented evidence indicating that during periods of intense rocket fire from Hamas in early 2024, about 13% of these rockets misfired, tragically resulting in the deaths of Palestinians.
And this is the part most people miss: The IDF also pointed to instances where Hamas itself was responsible for the deaths of Palestinians. This includes the execution of individuals viewed as political adversaries and the killing of civilians attempting to flee areas that the IDF had designated for evacuation. While the IDF is reportedly working on a more detailed breakdown of combatant versus civilian deaths and those killed by Hamas, no official estimate has been released yet.
Regarding the dire claims of starvation, the IDF has directly countered estimates from international bodies that suggest as many as 450 Palestinians may have died from hunger. According to IDF sources, these figures are often a combination of inaccurate data or include individuals who had pre-existing severe health conditions that predated the war. IDF representatives shared anecdotes of instances where humanitarian aid officials reported the deaths of children, only for the military to confirm those children were, in fact, still alive. In other cases, media coverage of children with contorted appearances who later died was clarified by the military as being due to serious pre-war medical issues.
The IDF plans to provide more comprehensive counter-information to the International Court of Justice on March 12, addressing the UN's claims of starvation deaths.
IDF officials have indicated that UN aid personnel on the ground have admitted that their superiors may have exaggerated food insecurity in Gaza to exert pressure on Israel to end the war. While acknowledging a food insecurity crisis in July-August 2025, the IDF asserts that their swift increase in food aid deliveries successfully averted a widespread starvation crisis.
To support these claims, the IDF highlighted the substantial aid delivered to Gaza throughout the war:
- 112,000 aid trucks entered Gaza.
- This included 1,700,000 tons of food.
- 1,800,000 tents and tarpaulin covers were also provided.
- 600,000 children received polio vaccinations.
- 16 field hospitals are currently operational.
- Over the course of the war, 9,600 tons of medical supplies were delivered.
- 5,000 international aid workers entered Gaza.
- 42,000 Gazans were able to exit the Strip for medical treatment or due to dual citizenship.
Additionally, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) supplied 1,300 food pallets to communities in southern Syria, primarily to the Druze population.
Maj.-Gen. Ghassan Alian, the current COGAT chief, is set to be replaced by Yoram Halevi, a former senior police official. Halevi's appointment has drawn criticism, with some suggesting it's a political move to align with the West Bank government and reduce professional dissent.
Now, consider this: The IDF's claims about misfired rockets and Hamas's internal actions paint a complex picture of casualties. Do you believe these explanations adequately account for the reported death tolls, or do you feel there are still unanswered questions about the war's human impact? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
