🧵Media, NGO & UN claim that Hamas casualty numbers in past wars have been accurate, therefore reliable today. This assertion is totally false. Hamas lied about casualties in every past war and they are lying now. @UNLazzarini is lying too. See below for detailed analysis: 1/14
After Dec 08-Jan 09 Gaza War (Cast Lead) Hamas claimed ~1,300 Gazans were killed including only 48 combatants. Total number was within range of Israeli estimate (10% higher) but Hamas said 95% were civilians. Like today, it was a lie by Hamas. 2/
english.alarabiya.net/articles/2009%…
In Mar 2009, after actual investigation, Israel released specific names identifying 709 killed as Hamas, out of 1,166 total fatalities. Only 295 killed were civilians according to Israel. 3/ jpost.com/israel/idf-rel…
How do we know it was Hamas that was lying in 2009 and not Israel? Because many months later Hamas literally admitted the truth! 600-700 of its fighters were killed, confirming the IDF numbers and Hamas lies about civilian deaths. 4/
haaretz.com/2010-11-09/ty-…
After Jul-Aug 2014 Gaza War (Protective Edge) Hamas claimed 2,131 Gazans killed including 1,473 civilians or 70%. Total killed was within IDF estimated range, but combatants killed were vastly undercounted. Like today, Hamas lied about civilian deaths. 5/ ochaopt.org/content/occupi…
Detailed analysis by Israeli intelligence group on 75% of total deaths in 2014 Gaza war indicated 52% were combatants. 886 combatants were identified by name. Israeli data thus starkly contradicted Hamas claims that 70% of fatalities were civilian. 6/
terrorism-info.org.il/en/20753/
Like today, during the 2014 war the IDF provided updates on combatants killed, stating during war in Aug 2014 more than 900 operatives killed; in line with 886 identified by name later. So, Hamas numbers were NOT accepted as accurate or unchallenged in 2014 either. 7/
During the May 10-21, 2021 “round” of war in Gaza UN OCHA (based on Hamas) claimed 261 killed including 130 civilians (64 combatants acknowledged killed). Once again, IDF numbers had a much higher level of combatants killed. 8/
Israeli intelligence group identified 236 total killed, within range of Hamas estimates, but identified 114 combatants by name & affiliation – so a 1:1 ratio. Again, Hamas numbers were not deemed accurate or unchallenged as media somehow claims today. 9/terrorism-info.org.il/en/an-analysis…
Hamas has lied other times. On May 14. 2018 Israel killed ~60 Palestinians in so-called border “protests” that were really Hamas infiltration attempts (post 10/7 we now know this was a test). As usual, UN NGOs & media immediately accepted claim they were mostly civilians. 10/
But after criticism of Hamas by a Palestinian interviewer for allowing Palestinian civilians to be killed in “protests” a Hamas official acknowledged that in fact 50 of 62 killed were Hamas members! Once again confirming Hamas lie of civilian deaths. 11/
timesofisrael.com/hamas-official…
Finally, we still have al-Ahli hospital claim of 471 deaths which are still included in current death total. Despite nearly universal acceptance it was a PIJ rocket and deaths were far lower, it remains in the official Gaza death count today. Another Hamas lie in the open. 12/
Hamas’ strategy on casualties is to offer a reasonable estimate for total fatalities, but grossly inflate civilians killed, often using the 70% number. In fact, like today, combatants killed comprise 40%-50% of total killed. 13/
Media, NGOs & UN continue to claim Hamas casualty numbers have been reliable in the past, and that they are even accepted by Israel or unchallenged – it’s total lie. Israel has been more accurate. This is proven by Hamas’ own admission of false numbers on multiple occasions. END
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