this post was submitted on 18 May 2024
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Very few outlets will show a graph of the casualties in Gaza nowadays.
But if you're interested in this beyond the propaganda angle here's a link to the casualties from the UN: https://unric.org/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/15/2024/04/Gaza_casualties_info-graphic_19_April_2024_1.pdf
Note how the graph is flattening. If this were a genocide, as the "perpetrators" gain control of more territory and eliminate enemy combatants you'd expect the casualties to increase (since there's no one there to protect people) not flatten out as we're seeing. Also note the Palestinian casualties being reported includes combatants (valid targets in a war) a support personnel (also valid targets in a war).
Also the UN has indicated there it's likely some casualties have been counted multiple times. It's a war after all, so we can't expect these numbers to be 100% accurate.
The numbers are consistent with similar urban combat operations elsewhere. Sadly, in these kinds of conflicts, civilians often bear the brunt, especially in conflicts where there's combatants that don't wear uniforms. Also, Israel was not prepared to handle humanitarian issues in a drawn out campaign like this because Israel generally doesn't do these kinds of campaigns. Hamas did know this war was going to occur well in advance but didn't prepare for helping their civilian population. One suspects that may be because Hamas benefits from the suffering of the Palestinian people.
Sorry for the interruption. Now back to your regularly scheduled TikTok propaganda.
This graph looks more like what I would expect from war rather than what I would expect from genocide. But many people are calling this genocide, so it seems likely this is a more complex issue. Why are people saying this is more like genocide?
Edited: I am leaving the comment here, but it appears I am actually ignorant on the definition of genocide. It doesn't relate to a set amount of deaths and other conflicts with fewer deaths have been labeled as genocide, so my point was totally wrong.
It's because the term genocide has been weaponized. People are redefining the term to be "whatever Israel is doing" to create a false equivalency between what Hamas did on October 7 and the war those actions started. It's a "both sides" mentality from people that confuse sympathy for Palestinians with sympathy for Hamas.
It's very disgusting logic when you think about it. People feel that if they can prove that both sides have committed genocide, then the genocide perpetrated by Hamas is somehow justified.
There's a lot of raw emotion at play here people that have been subjected to imagery of dead children tend not to be able to parse the logic they're promoting.
But in the end Hamas committed genocide, Israel has not. That fact makes it difficult for people to attend protests where people cosplay as Hamas, so it's generally rejected to preserve the convenient narrative and not feel guilty over not having the courage to call out blatant antisemitism.