The United Nations seemingly halved the estimated number of women and children killed in Gaza, according to UN data published on May 6 and 8.
The UN published the number of fatalities reported by the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health or the Government Media Office in Gaza and Israeli authorities.
The UN provided a disclaimer below the data: “The UN has so far not been able to produce independent, comprehensive, and verified casualty figures.”
On May 6, the UN published data showing that 34,735 people had reportedly been killed in Gaza, including over 9,500 women and over 14,500 children.
On May 8, the UN published data showing 34,844 people had reportedly been killed, including 4,959 women and 7,797 children.
The new figures showed the number of identified deaths as of April 30, which total 24,686 people; the new data also specified that 10,006 men had been killed and 1,924 elderly.
The UN also highlighted that the plurality of identified fatalities were men (40%), while children were (32%) and women (20%).
Questions over data accuracy
This comes after months of accusations for leading statisticians that the numbers produced by the Gazan authorities cannot possibly be accurate.
Washington Institute for Near East Policy released a report in January that showed major discrepancies in the fatality reports. They concluded such discrepancies were most likely caused by manipulation.
Professor Abraham Wyner also told Tablet Magazine that the rate of deaths was very unnatural and climbed far too regularly.
He claimed that in war, deaths should be irregular as the intensity of war is irregular, but that the death numbers climbed by 270 plus/minus 15%, which he says is statistically impossible.
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