5,000 civilians dead in a month in Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza
By isabelle // 2024-12-16
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  • Israeli forces killed at least 5,139 civilians in Gaza in October 2023, including 1,900 children and 1,213 women.
  • The civilian-to-combatant death ratio was between 85:1 and 160:1, a record high for Airwars.
  • The Israeli military targeted entire neighborhoods, schools and hospitals, causing a humanitarian catastrophe.
  • The U.S. continues to fund Israel, enabling its campaign despite evidence of war crimes.
  • Airwars warns Israel’s tactics could set a dangerous precedent for future conflicts.
Israeli forces killed at least 5,139 civilians in Gaza during the first 25 days of their bombing campaign in October 2023, according to a recent report by Airwars, a UK-based nonprofit that monitors civilian casualties in conflict zones. This includes a minimum of 1,900 children and 1,213 women, many of whom were killed in their own homes alongside their families. The scale of civilian harm is unprecedented in modern warfare, with Airwars describing it as "the most intense, destructive and fatal conflict for civilians that Airwars has ever documented." The ratio of civilians to combatants killed in these strikes is appalling. Airwars found that only 32 to 60 militants were killed in the same period, resulting in a civilian-to-combatant ratio of 85:1 to 160:1. This means that for every militant killed, dozens – if not hundreds – of innocent civilians perished. The sheer magnitude of this carnage is unmatched in any conflict Airwars has documented since its inception in 2014.

A war without mercy

What began as a military response to Hamas’ cross-border attack on October 7, 2023, quickly escalated into a full-scale assault on Gaza’s civilian population. The Israeli military unleashed a relentless air and ground campaign targeting not just militants but entire neighborhoods, schools, hospitals and infrastructure. The result has been a humanitarian catastrophe of unimaginable proportions. By the end of the first month, the death toll had reached 5,139 civilians, with thousands more injured and countless homes destroyed. This figure is nearly four times higher than the most lethal month Airwars had previously recorded, which was during the U.S.-led campaign against ISIS in Iraq’s Mosul in 2017. The situation has only worsened since then. As of November 2024, official Palestinian Ministry of Health statistics indicate that more than 43,000 Palestinians have been killed, with no end to the violence in sight. The deliberate targeting of civilians is evident in the patterns of harm documented by Airwars. Women and children were overwhelmingly killed in residential buildings, with more than 90% of fatalities occurring in homes. In more than 95% of cases where a woman was killed, at least one child was also among the victims. Families were slaughtered together in unprecedented numbers, with some incidents claiming the lives of entire households.

Israel’s disregard for civilian lives

Despite international outcry and accusations of war crimes, Israel has shown little interest in taking steps to minimize civilian casualties. Reports from 972 Magazine, an Israeli publication, reveal that the Israeli military intentionally bombed civilian targets, labeling them "power targets" to "harm Palestinian civil society" and "create a shock" that would pressure Hamas. This strategy, which involves knowingly accepting high civilian casualties, is a stark departure from the principles of proportionality and distinction enshrined in international law. The use of advanced technology, including artificial intelligence, to track and target Hamas militants has only exacerbated the problem. Systems like "Where’s Daddy" have been used to bomb militants in their homes, often resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians. In one incident, the Israeli military authorized the killing of approximately 300 civilians to eliminate a single Hamas commander. This blatant disregard for human life is a chilling reminder of the moral bankruptcy of Israel’s military strategy.

Biden’s complicity in genocide

While the world watches in horror, the Biden administration continues to provide unwavering support to Israel. Despite overwhelming evidence of war crimes and crimes against humanity, the U.S. has supplied Israel with billions of dollars in weapons and military aid, enabling its genocidal campaign in Gaza. Without this support, Israeli officials have admitted that their military could not sustain operations in Gaza for more than a few months. This complicity is particularly galling given the Biden administration’s rhetoric about human rights and democracy. By funding and enabling Israel’s brutal assault on the Palestinian people, the U.S. is not only violating its own moral principles but also undermining its credibility on the global stage.

A new normal of civilian harm?

Airwars warns that Israel’s conduct in Gaza may set a dangerous precedent for future conflicts. The high frequency of strikes, the intensity of damage and the acceptance of massive civilian casualties could become a new norm in modern warfare. This is a disturbing prospect as it suggests that the international community is becoming desensitized to the horrors of war and the sanctity of human life. The situation in Gaza is a stark reminder of the urgent need for accountability and justice. The international community must hold Israel accountable for its actions and demand an end to the violence. The Biden administration, in particular, must reconsider its support for Israel’s genocidal war and take meaningful steps to prevent further atrocities. The lives of countless innocent civilians depend on it. Sources for this article include: News.Antiwar.com Gaza-Patterns-Harm-Airwars.org Al-Monitor.com
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