Economist Podcasts Worse even than it seems: Gaza’s death toll
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May 21, 2025 
Josie DeLapp, Middle East editor at The Economist, discusses the harrowing realities in Gaza, revealing that Israel's military actions have likely caused far more fatalities than reported. She highlights the complexities in casualty counting and the severe impacts on the young population amidst ongoing violence. The conversation also touches on the Church of England's decline, as it sells properties due to reduced attendance, and a look into the trendy ginger shots, questioning their real health benefits versus hype.
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Underestimated Gaza Death Toll
- The Gaza Ministry of Health's death toll is underestimated, possibly by up to 107% more than official counts.
- The study based on multiple overlapping death record lists reveals significant undercounting of traumatic injury deaths in Gaza.
Civilian vs Combatant Deaths Blurred
- The distinction between civilians and combatants in Gaza's death toll is unclear, complicating the assessment of proportionality in warfare.
- Laws of war require judgments on civilian casualties relative to military gains, but accurate ratios remain unknown.
Changing Nature of Hamas Fighters
- The nature of Hamas fighters and leadership has shifted, affecting the proportionality of military responses.
- Targeting inexperienced militants raises ethical questions about civilian casualties in ongoing conflict.
