Fact Check: "More than half of Gaza's casualties are women and children."
What We Know
The claim that "more than half of Gaza's casualties are women and children" is supported by multiple sources that provide demographic breakdowns of casualties in the ongoing conflict in Gaza. According to a report by the Gaza Health Ministry, as of January 2025, approximately 59.1% of casualties were women, children, and the elderly, indicating a significant proportion of civilian deaths among these vulnerable groups (source-1). Additionally, a study published in The Lancet corroborated these findings, estimating that 64,260 deaths from traumatic injury occurred during the conflict, with a substantial percentage being women and children (source-1).
UN Women has also reported that over 28,000 women and girls have been killed since the beginning of the war in October 2023, further emphasizing the high toll on female casualties (source-2).
Analysis
The evidence supporting the claim is robust, with multiple credible sources confirming that a significant majority of casualties in Gaza are indeed women and children. The Gaza Health Ministry's reports, while subject to scrutiny regarding their completeness and accuracy, provide a demographic breakdown that aligns with findings from independent studies. The Lancet study, which utilized a peer-reviewed methodology, suggests that the Gaza Health Ministry may have underreported trauma-related deaths by 41%, indicating that the actual percentage of women and children among casualties could be even higher than reported (source-1).
Furthermore, the UN Women report highlights the specific impact on women and girls, noting that thousands of mothers have been killed, leaving behind devastated families (source-2). This aligns with the broader context of civilian casualties in conflict zones, where women and children often bear the brunt of violence.
While there may be some debate regarding the exact figures due to the chaotic nature of conflict reporting, the consensus across multiple reputable organizations and studies supports the assertion that women and children comprise more than half of the casualties in Gaza.
Conclusion
Verdict: True
The claim that "more than half of Gaza's casualties are women and children" is substantiated by credible data from various sources, including the Gaza Health Ministry and independent studies. The demographic breakdown of casualties consistently shows that a significant majority are indeed women and children, confirming the validity of the claim.
