US Official Challenges Death Toll in Israel’s Assault on Gaza, Contradicting President Biden’s Remarks
A senior US official has questioned the reported death toll in Israel’s assault on Gaza, suggesting the numbers could be higher than initially claimed. Barbara Leaf, assistant secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs, expressed doubts about the figures provided by Gaza’s Health Ministry during a hearing with the House Foreign Affairs Committee. This contradicts President Joe Biden’s earlier assertion that the ministry’s numbers are untrustworthy.
Leaf stated that due to the ongoing conflict and the conditions of war, it is challenging to accurately assess the casualty rate. However, she suggested that the death toll is likely to be much higher than the reported 10,000 fatalities. We think they’re very high, frankly, and it could be that they’re even higher than are being cited, Leaf said. She added that the actual figures would only become clear after the conflict subsides and that a variety of sources on the ground are being consulted.
Gaza’s Health Ministry has reported that at least 10,569 Palestinians, including 4,324 children, have been killed since October 7th. The ministry also mentioned the presence of thousands of missing Palestinians presumed to be under the rubble. Despite President Biden casting doubt on these figures, the reliability of the data has been supported by the United Nations and humanitarian aid groups with experience in Gaza.
In contrast to Leaf’s remarks, the Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot quoted an Israeli security source claiming that Israel has killed around 20,000 Palestinians. However, this assertion has not been corroborated by other sources.
While acknowledging the high civilian casualty rate in Gaza, the White House has maintained unconditional military support for Israel. On Monday, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby recognized that the Israeli bombardment had caused the deaths of many, many thousands of innocent people. Despite this acknowledgment, the United States continues to provide Israel with near-daily weapons shipments.
The conflicting statements from senior US officials highlight the challenges in accurately assessing the death toll during times of intense conflict. However, the discrepancy between President Biden’s skepticism and the support received by Gaza’s Health Ministry numbers from the UN and aid groups raises questions about the consistency of US policy regarding this ongoing crisis. As the situation evolves, it remains to be seen whether a clearer picture of the casualties will emerge once the violence subsides.
