The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Erupts Again: Casualty Figures Over the Past 16 Years

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has intensified. Israel has launched attacks on key areas in Palestine in Gaza, killing over 400 people, including 78 children, since Sunday (October 8, 2023).

The attacks are claimed to be retaliation against the Hamas group, which is said to have killed 700 Israeli citizens and abducted dozens more on Saturday (October 7, 2023). Reuters described these attacks on Israeli cities as the deadliest since the Egyptian and Syrian aggression in the Yom Kippur War 50 years ago.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes have hit residential blocks, tunnels, mosques, and the homes of Hamas officials in Gaza. "The price Gaza will pay will be very heavy and will change the situation for generations," said Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant in Ofakim, as quoted by Reuters on Monday (October 9, 2023).

(Read also: [Early 2023 Israel Already Destroyed Hundreds of Palestinian Buildings](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2023/03/28/awal-2023-israel-sudah-hancurkan-ratusan-bangunan-palestina))

From both sides, the total death toll is estimated to be over 1,100 since the attacks began last Saturday. However, what is the trend of casualties over the years of this conflict?

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has actually been ongoing since the Arab-Israeli war in 1948. The conflict intensified after Israel illegally occupied areas in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, since 1967, as written by the Global Centre for the Responsibility to Protect.

Data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UN-OCHA) shows that from 2008 to September 19, 2023, Palestinian casualties reached 6,407. The number of Palestinian casualties is higher than that of Israel.

In the last 16 years, the highest number of Palestinian casualties occurred in 2014, reaching 2,329. This was followed by 2009 with 1,066 casualties. The latest update, as of September 19, 2023, shows 227 casualties.

Of all the victims, males account for the highest number, at 4,326. There were also 1,162 boys; 626 women; 275 girls; and 18 others/unidentified.

The area with the highest number of casualties is the Gaza Strip, reaching 5,360. This is followed by the West Bank with 1,007 and Israel with 37.

The deadliest weapon was Israeli airstrikes, killing 3,212 Palestinians. This is followed by active ammunition, killing 1,439, and ground explosions, killing 219.

Meanwhile, Israeli casualties reached 308. The highest number of casualties was 88 in 2014, followed by 33 in 2008. The latest casualty count, as of August 31, 2023, is 29.

Of the casualties over the past 16 years, 177 were Israeli civilians and 131 were Israeli soldiers. Male casualties dominated, at 247. This is followed by 36 women; 19 boys; and 6 girls.

The area with the highest number of casualties is the West Bank, at 138. This is followed by the Gaza Strip with 52 and other areas with 1.

(Read also: [The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict Continues to Claim Victims Until Early 2023](https://databoks.katadata.co.id/datapublish/2023/03/28/konflik-palestina-israel-masih-makan-korban-sampai-awal-2023))