UN defends Gaza casualty figures after Israeli criticism

By Nathan Morley

The United Nations humanitarian aid chief, Martin Griffiths, has defended the organisations use of casualty figures during the ongoing conflict in Gaza.

Mr. Griffiths was responding to outspoken criticism by Israel.  

The Israeli Foreign Minister said the reduction in the UN estimate in the number of women and children killed in Gaza suggested it had relied on false data from Hamas.

Meanwhile, Israel has defended its military campaign in Gaza before the UN’s highest court by telling judges that accusations of genocide were a distortion of fact.

South Africa has asked the court to issue an emergency order stopping Israel’s offensive into Rafah where more than a million displaced Palestinians have sought shelter.

Gilad Noam from Israel’s justice ministry told the court his country was engaged in a ‘difficult conflict’ in Gaza, and accused South Africa of abusing the genocide convention to protect Hamas.

The Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip was triggered by the unprecedented attack by Hamas on Israel on October 7th.

Hamas operatives invaded Israeli towns and committed atrocities against civilians. They kidnapped around 250 people; 128 hostages are still held by Hamas and other militant Palestinian groups.