WHO refutes Israeli claims of Gaza Health Ministry data inaccuracies

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
14 May 2024 21:42

WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said that there were no errors in the Gaza Health Ministry's data and that the number of martyrs remains at the same estimate of 35,000, 25,000 of which have been identified.

Mourners pray over the bodies of members of the Abu Taha family who were killed in an Israeli airstrike, during their funeral at Al-Salam cemetery, east of Rafah, Gaza Strip, April 29, 2024 (AP)

The World Health Organization (WHO) stated on Tuesday that the death toll from the Gaza genocide exceeds 35,000, contradicting "Israel's" claim that the actual number is half of what is being reported.

Last week, the Ministry of Health in Gaza released updated casualty figures, indicating approximately 24,686 martyrs, a figure significantly lower than the previously reported 35,000 casualties in May.

The UN clarified that this adjustment does not represent an actual reduction in the number of martyrs but rather a mere refinement to indicate the number of martyrs who have been identified.

This implies that the remaining 10,000 martyrs are unidentified bodies.

At a press conference earlier today, the spokesperson for the WHO, Christian Lindmeier, said that there were no errors in the Gaza Health Ministry's data and that the number of martyrs remains at the same estimate of 35,000, 25,000 of which have been identified.

UN Spokesman Farhan Haq said on Monday that while there has been an update in the breakdown of fatalities provided by the Ministry of Health in Gaza, the overall number of martyrs remains unchanged, with over 35,000 recorded since October 7.

The figures provided by the Ministry of Health are cited as generally accurate, based on past coordination with them, Haq said.

Injured IOF soldiers: Underreported realities exposed by Israeli media

As the Israeli occupation underplays the grim reality of what the war looks like in Gaza, it does the opposite when it comes to the massively underreported numbers of injuries and deaths by the Israeli army in confrontations with the Palestinian Resistance.

In this context, the Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth revealed earlier that the actual number of wounded soldiers in Gaza is much higher than the numbers the army is admitting under the "permitted to publish" clause, as reported by hospitals.

The military correspondent of Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper, Yossi Yehoshua, stated that there is a "long and painful list" that includes soldiers with serious injuries, alongside a larger number of soldiers who sustained moderate and light injuries.

Yehoshua pointed out that the "harsh scenes" in rehabilitation centers tell a story unknown to Israelis, as the soldiers entering the battle are arriving at hospitals with severe limb injuries, head injuries, and injuries resulting in loss of vision.

He stressed the importance of urging the public to request comprehensive information to evaluate the extent of the significant damage.

In this context, the Israeli journalist confirmed that the Israeli occupation's Security Ministry, as well as the rehabilitation and injuries sections in the army, are not prepared to deal with the repercussions that may result from a war of this magnitude.