Gaza war: Why is the UN citing lower death toll for women and children? - BBC News

The UN says it is now relying on figures from the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

22 hours agoShareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingRelated TopicsIsrael-Gaza warImage source, Getty ImagesBy Jake Horton, Shayan Sardarizadeh & Adam DurbinBBC VerifyThe United Nations has revised down the figure it publishes for the proportion of women and children killed in Gaza, leading to claims fewer Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its offensive following the Hamas attack of 7 October.

On 6 May, the UN said that 69% of reported fatalities were women and children. Two days later, it said this figure was 52%.

The overall number of reported deaths in Gaza - which currently stands at more than 35,000 - has not changed, but the UN now says incomplete information has led to the revision.

The UN says it is now relying on figures from the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza, rather than from the Hamas-run Government Media Office (GMO).

The Israeli foreign minister highlighted the UN's change, external, calling the lower reported death tolls for women and children "the miraculous resurrection of the dead in Gaza" and accusing the UN of relying on "fake data from a terrorist organisation".

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-69014893

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