Lancet estimates death toll of 35k off by a factor of 5. 186k (including indirect deaths from destroyed health services and so forth). https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(24)01169-3/fulltext
As already widely noted... the figures in this Lancet letter to the editor (correspondence) being quoted widely by terrorist supporters are complete bullshiat. One of the authors has retracted the information. This information is NOT an estimate from Lancet. It is not a peer-reviewed academic article. '186,000 Gazans dead’: Lancet magazine publishes new blood libel The Lancet published a controversial letter with "purely illustrative' estimations of casualties in Gaza, sparking widespread misinterpretation despite author retractions and journal's clarifications https://www.jpost.com/israel-hamas-war/article-809632 The Lancet magazine, an esteemed medical journal founded in 1823, published a piece earlier this week authored by doctors Rasha Khatib, Martin McKee and Salim Yusuf, which claimed that “it is not implausible to estimate that up to 186,000 or even more deaths could be attributable to the current conflict in Gaza.” Though the short piece was designated as a “correspondence” or a letter to the editor rather than a peer-reviewed academic article, and though the piece referred to alleged future accumulative death rates rather than current ones, the platform provided by the respected magazine gave it a reliable atmosphere. This led anti-Israel users on social media to propagate the new libel en masse, conveniently forgetting to mention the nature of the letter. Such was UN rapporteur Francesca Albanese, who presents herself as an expert in law, quoted the piece, claiming in a tweet that “If one includes both direct & indirect deaths from Israel's assault, the death toll in Gaza goes up to 186,000 people, according to the medical journal The Lancet. That's 1 in every 12 Gaza inhabitants killed in the last 9 months of genocide.” Another propagator of the digits was Qatar-related Middle East Eye, who mentioned in a tweet that it was a “letter from experts” but nevertheless published a graphic poster that attributed the new ‘death toll’ to the Lancet magazine itself. Sami Al-Arian, a Palestinian scholar indicted by and expelled from the US for his ties to the Islamic Jihad, also referred to the article, attributing to the Lancet, “a respected and peer-reviewed medical journal,” an estimate that “186,000 have been killed by Israel since Oct. 7.” Other viral promoters of the new libel were Labour MP Zarah Sultana, pro-terror blogger Mohammed El-Kurd, , anti-Israel group Democracy Now, former JVP official Rabbi Alissa Wise, Palestinian doctor Ghassan Abu Sitta, French reported Charles Villa, and Canadian Palestinian neuroscientist Afif Aqrabawi. Three days after the publication, one of the writers, Professor Martin McKee, retracted from the digits he co-provided in his piece, claiming that they were “purely illustrative” and that “our piece has been greatly misquoted and misinterpreted.” Despite that, none of the above-mentioned writers have retracted their statements. The Jerusalem Post reached out to the Lancet magazine inquiring regarding whether the magazine stands behind the digits, plans to retract the digits following McKee’s comments, or plans to issue a clarification regarding the nature of the written piece. Lancet response The Lancet magazine responded by saying that the letter was published in the Correspondence section of The Lancet by external authors. The 186,000 figure and corresponding 7.9% are estimates, explained in this paragraph of the Correspondence: "In recent conflicts, such indirect deaths range from three to 15 times the number of direct deaths. Applying a conservative estimate of four indirect deaths per one direct death to the 37 396 deaths reported, it is not implausible to estimate that up to 186 000 or even more deaths could be attributable to the current conflict in Gaza. Using the 2022 Gaza Strip population estimate of 2 375 259, this would translate to 7·9% of the total population in the Gaza Strip." The authors also note that many of these indirect deaths may not have yet occurred: “Armed conflicts have indirect health implications beyond the direct harm from violence. Even if the conflict ends immediately, there will continue to be many indirect deaths in the coming months and years.”
ChatGPT summary. The correspondence titled "Counting the dead in Gaza: difficult but essential," published in The Lancet on July 5, 2024, discusses the significant challenges in accurately counting casualties in Gaza due to ongoing conflict.Key points include:Reported Death Toll: By June 19, 2024, the Gaza Health Ministry reported 37,396 deaths since the conflict began in October 2023. These figures, though contested by Israeli authorities, have been accepted as accurate by Israeli intelligence, the UN, and WHO.Data Collection Challenges: The destruction of infrastructure has made data collection increasingly difficult. The Ministry now relies on additional sources like media and first responders, leading to a separate count of unidentified bodies (30% as of May 10, 2024).Underestimation of Deaths: The reported deaths are likely an underestimate. Independent assessments indicate that many bodies remain buried under rubble, with estimates of more than 10,000. Indirect deaths due to the conflict’s impact on healthcare, food, water, and shelter are expected to be significant, potentially raising the death toll to 186,000 or more.Need for Ceasefire and Aid: An urgent ceasefire is deemed essential to prevent further deaths and enable the distribution of essential supplies. Documenting the full scale of the conflict's impact is crucial for accountability and future humanitarian efforts.Legal and Historical Importance: Accurate records are necessary for legal obligations under the Genocide Convention and to ensure historical accountability for the conflict.The article underscores the importance of reliable casualty data for both immediate humanitarian response and long-term recovery and accountability. The correspondence does not explicitly mention numbers being off by a factor of 5. However, it discusses the challenges and potential underestimation of death tolls due to the conflict in Gaza. The authors suggest that indirect deaths resulting from the conflict could be significant, potentially ranging from three to fifteen times the number of direct deaths. Specifically, they use a conservative estimate of four indirect deaths per one direct death to project that up to 186,000 or more deaths could be attributable to the conflict. This estimate highlights the potential for the reported figures to be significantly higher when considering indirect consequences.
Below is an exerp of an interview between Newsweek and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan has accused U.S. President Joe Biden and his administration of complicity in atrocities in Israel's war in the Gaza Strip and rounded on the United States and other NATO allies he said had "fueled the fire" of war in Ukraine. Erdogan made his comments, some of his strongest criticism of the Biden administration to date over the conflicts, in response to written questions from Newsweek as he arrived in Washington, D.C. to attend a NATO summit at a pivotal time for the international order. Exclusive: Turkey’s Erdogan Blasts Biden’s US Over Ukraine and Gaza By Tom O'Connor Newsweek World Updated July 11, 2024 Erdogan's criticism of Biden and NATO allies. Erdogan's criticism of Biden and NATO allies Question from Newsweek to Erdogan: One foreign policy issue on which Türkiye has differed from many other NATO members is the ongoing war in Gaza. You have taken diplomatic actions against Israel and humanitarian operations in support of Palestinians, and you've been vocal about your opposition to Israel's offensive. But if the war continues, escalates, how far are you willing to go to pressure Israel and are you concerned about the potential for a broader regional conflict, involving Iran and its "Axis of Resistance?" What is between Israel and Gaza is not war. It is Israel's attacks against Gaza that disregard human rights and international law and the resulting massacres. Palestinians are simply defending their homes, streets, and homeland in Gaza. Israel has been deliberately targeting civilian infrastructure in Gaza, where civilians live and take shelter for days. We have objected to this since Day One. Moreover, it was not on October 7 that Israel launched its attacks on Gaza. Israel has been treating Gaza as an open-air prison for years. They are usurping Palestinians of their homes, businesses, and farmlands throughout Palestinian territory using thieving terrorists they call settlers. Just think about it: someone comes to your house with an Israeli soldier, throwing you out, saying that now your house belongs to them. That is what is transpiring in Palestine. For years, Israel has engaged in systematic state terrorism in the Palestinian territory. Israel is violating international law. What happened to the resolution of UNSC for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza? Israel did not even bother, let alone enforce it. At this juncture, who will impose what kind of sanction against Israel for violating international law? That is the real question and no one is answering that. We want these attacks to stop immediately, Israel to withdraw from Gaza, and humanitarian aid to be delivered to Gaza without interruption. We want the two-state solution based on 1967 borders to be implemented for lasting peace in the region. Israel's threats against the countries of the region, particularly Lebanon, and its attempts to spread the conflict across the region must stop. Otherwise, our region faces a greater risk of deeper conflicts and even war. Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/article289956509.html#storylink=cpy
Seeing that all the rockets, munitions and armaments that Hamas uses on Israel were smuggled over from Egypt -- there should be no consideration of a peace agreement whatsoever unless Israel holds this border. Egypt has been found to be completely untrustworthy. Netanyahu demands Israeli control of Gaza territory on Egypt border https://www.al-monitor.com/original...s-israeli-control-gaza-territory-egypt-border
This is just the first 100 UNRWA employees that are fully confirmed to be Hamas terrorists. There will be hundreds of more names coming out in the upcoming weeks. UNRWA needs to be completely defunded and disbanded. Israel identifies 100 UNRWA employees who work as 'terrorist operatives', asks for their dismissal Israel sent names, military IDs of 'terrorist operatives' working for UNRWA https://www.foxnews.com/world/israe...-who-work-terrorist-operatives-asks-dismissal Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) is employing 100 terrorist operatives and directly asked the organization to terminate the staffers immediately. In the July 4 letter, which was obtained by Fox News Digital, Ambassador Amir Weissbrod wrote that the presence of Hamas terrorists in UNRWA has been a "recurring concern" for Israeli officials. "However, the full scope of this unprecedented infiltration was unknown and became clear only after the October 7th terrorist attack on Israel, in which, as you know, UNRWA employees actively participated," Weissbrod said. "In recent months Israel has discovered that hundreds of terrorists, members of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) have been employed by UNRWA in the Gaza Strip, some of them holding high-ranking positions in UNRWA or in Hamas." The ambassador added that the intent of his letter was to share "some additional information on this matter," and proceeded to identify the employees associated with Hamas. "Please find attached a document containing 100 names and IDs of terrorist operatives who are currently employed by UNRWA-Gaza," Weissbrod wrote. "This list includes their military IDs as well." The official added that the list contains a "small fraction" of terrorist operatives employed by UNRWA, and that the names of more employees will be sent in the future. "Israel expects from you and your organization to immediately terminate the employment of any member of Hamas or PIJ…their work in UNRWA poses a security risk for Israel, and represents a breach of the principle of neutrality as was mentioned in Ms. Colonna's report," Weissbrod added. "This list will also be provided to major UNRWA donors." The Israeli government has repeatedly released photographs, video and documents proving that Hamas terrorists have worked within the UNRWA, and the agency has previously accepted the authenticity of the information. In January, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini announced that he had fired UNRWA staff members that were involved in the Oct. 7 attacks. "To protect the Agency’s ability to deliver humanitarian assistance, I have taken the decision to immediately terminate the contracts of these staff members and launch an investigation in order to establish the truth without delay," he said. "Any UNRWA employee who was involved in acts of terror will be held accountable, including through criminal prosecution," he said at the time. However, Lazzarini has also recently pushed back against Israeli criticism of his organization. During a meeting at the U.N. in Geneva, he said that the UNRWA was "staggering under the weight of relentless attacks." "Israel has long been critical of the agency's mandate. But it now seeks to end UNRWA's operations, dismissing the agency's status as a United Nations entity supported by an overwhelming majority of member states," he said. "If we do not push back, other U.N. entities and international organizations will be next, further undermining our multilateral system."
www.twitter.com/Bourdain/status/489493639702532096/ I stumbled across this old tweet today. An Israeli airstrike killed a child on a beach in Gaza. This was all shortly after he did a Parts Unknown episode in Israel and Gaza.
Erdoğan signals vetoing NATO-Israel cooperation by YetkinReport / 12 July 2024, Friday https://yetkinreport.com/en/2024/07/12/erdogan-signals-vetoing-nato-israel-cooperation/ Turkish President Tayyip Erdoğan said until peace in Palestine, starting from a ceasefire in Gaza, Türkiye will not approve NATO-Israel cooperation projects.(Photo: Turkish Presidency) Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on July 12 that “Until a comprehensive, sustainable peace is established in Palestine, attempts at cooperation with Israel within NATO will not be approved by Türkiye.” In a press conference following the NATO 75th-year Summit in Washington DC Erdoğan said: “It is not possible for the Israeli administration, which has trampled on the fundamental values of our alliance, to continue its partnership relationship with NATO”. Israel is one of the countries with partnership relations with the 32-member Western defense alliance since 1987. In the ongoing Israeli military campaign in Gaza more than 38 thousand Palestinians were killed, following the Hamas attack on Israel causing near 1200 killings on October 7, 2023. Erdoğan also said: “Netanyahu administration with its expansionist and reckless policies, endangers the security of not only its own citizens, but also the entire region.” Türkiye, Spain and Norway Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanches also urged his NATO partners to show the same “unity and consistency” when it comes to Gaza as they have demonstrated toward Ukraine. Accusing NATO to apply “double standards” when it comes to Gaza, Sanchez stressed the need for an urgent cease fire, pointing out “a real risk of escalation to Lebanon”. Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide of Norway, another NATO member had earlier blasted his allies for “[hesitating] to use the same type of language against violations of international humanitarian law [in Gaza] that we easily apply when they are violated by Russia in Ukraine.” Norway and Spain are among the NATO members who recognized Palestine as a state. Türkiye and Spain are among countries applied to International Court of Justice in support of South Africa who filed a genocide case against Israel because of its atrocities in Gaza.