Lancet: Gaza death toll could exceed 186,000

As of October 7, the Palestinian health ministry reported that the number of fatalities stands at 38,152 in Gaza. However, a recent letter published in The Lancet, a renowned British medical journal, suggests that this figure may significantly underrepresent the true extent of the tragedy.

Experts cited in The Lancet warned that the actual death toll could exceed a staggering 186,000 Palestinians killed in Gaza. 

The letter highlights serious concerns that the official tally fails to include many individuals buried under debris or account for the mounting indirect deaths stemming from the destruction of essential infrastructure.

"The reported figures from the Palestinian health ministry are likely a dramatic underestimate," the experts cautioned. 

They pointed to the widespread destruction of Gaza's healthcare facilities, severe shortages of basic necessities like food and water, and the population's inability to find safe havens amidst the ongoing conflict. 

Moreover, the loss of funding to critical humanitarian organizations like the UN Relief and Works Agency(UNRWA) exacerbated the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The letter further noted that the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with an estimated 10,000 bodies still buried under rubble due to the destruction of approximately 35 percent of Gaza's buildings, according to UN data.