Netanyahu reveals number of Hamas fighters and Palestinians killed
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reported that since the beginning of the attacks on the region on October 7, 15,000 members of Hamas's military wing, the Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades, and 15,000 civilians have been killed.
In an interview with Time magazine in West Jerusalem, Netanyahu discussed the ongoing assaults on Gaza and the tensions with Iran, among other issues.
Netanyahu claimed that Israel is capable of countering a coordinated attack potentially orchestrated by Tehran, Hezbollah, and Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. However, he did not respond when asked if Israel would seek assistance from the U.S. in the event of retaliation from Tehran.
Netanyahu asserted that Israel's past actions have delayed Iran's uranium enrichment and stated, "We will do everything to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons."
Discrepancy in Numbers
According to the Health Ministry in Gaza, since October 7, 39,699 Palestinians have been killed in the attacks, including 16,314 children and 10,980 women.
Netanyahu, however, claimed that the number of civilian deaths in Gaza was 15,000 and that another 15,000 were members of the Qassam Brigades.
Netanyahu described the civilian casualties in Gaza as "low compared to urban conflicts in other countries," stating, "Our best assessment is a one-to-one ratio (one Hamas military wing member to one civilian); however, this ratio is naturally declining. Achieving such a one-to-one ratio under probably the toughest urban warfare conditions is an incredible success for the Israeli government."
Netanyahu also expressed his desire to see a civilian administration in Gaza, disarmed by Israel and supported by "regional partners," take control after the attacks.
