Gaza’s Hamas-run ministry of health has revised down figures for the number of women and children confirmed killed in the conflict in the coastal strip.
The revised totals, which first appeared on the website of the UN’s office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs (Ocha), were seized on as proof by pro-Israel media and commentators that the UN had quietly reassessed civilian casualty rates.
The Guardian also understands that the new figures provided by the ministry relate to 24,686 “fully documented cases” out of an estimated 34,622 deaths recorded by 30 April, suggesting an ongoing verification process.
“The United Nations’ teams in Gaza are unable to independently verify those figures given the prevailing situation on the ground and the sheer volume of fatalities.
Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, appeared to respond to the revised figures by suggesting that the vast majority of all remaining male casualties were Hamas combatants.
Research by the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem following the 2014 Gaza conflict also found the ministry’s totals were largely consistent with their own survey.
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