A study by the British scientific journal The Lancet, a weekly peer-reviewed general medical journal, predicts that the number of martyrs killed during the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip, both directly and indirectly, will exceed 186,000.
The journal based this estimate on the consideration that armed conflicts have indirect health effects that extend beyond the direct harm caused by violence.
The journal then explained that "Even if the conflict were to end immediately, many indirect deaths will continue to be recorded in the coming months and years due to causes such as reproductive diseases, infectious diseases, and non-communicable diseases."
Additionally, it noted that "The total number of deaths is expected to be large given the intensity of this conflict, the devastated healthcare infrastructure, the severe shortage of food, water, and shelter, the inability of the population to move to safe places, and the loss of funding for UNRWA."
The British journal emphasized that "in recent conflicts, the number of indirect deaths has ranged from 3 to 15 times the number of direct deaths," adding "If we apply a conservative estimate of four indirect deaths for every direct death, we will find that this figure is much higher than the number of direct deaths."
Given the more than 37,000 reported deaths in Gaza, it is not surprising to estimate that up to 186,000 or even more deaths could be recorded in Gaza, the British journal stressed.
It added that using the estimated population of the Gaza Strip for 2022, which is 2,375,259 people, would translate to 7.9% of the total population in the sector.
Furthermore, The Lancet emphasized that an immediate and urgent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip is necessary, "accompanied by measures to enable the distribution of medical supplies, food, clean water, and other resources to meet basic humanitarian needs."
It stressed the there is a "need to record the scale and nature of suffering in this conflict," and added that "Documenting the true scale is crucial for ensuring historical accountability and acknowledging the full cost of the war. "
On day 275 of the Israeli genocide in Gaza, the number of Palestinians killed by the Israeli occupation in Gaza on Sunday reached 38,153, in addition to 87,828 injuries, according to the daily report published by the Health Ministry in Gaza.
"Israel" committed three massacres in 24 hours, killing 55 Palestinians and injuring 123 others.
While some were transported to partially functioning hospitals, many victims remain trapped beneath the rubble with rescue crews unable to reach them.
Others remain either injured or lie there as lifeless bodies dispersed on the streets as rescue crews are also prohibited from attending to them or transporting them.
A renewed series of sporadic attacks were carried out by the Israeli occupation on the 275th day of its ongoing aggression on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip, Al Mayadeen's correspondent reported.
Five journalists were among those killed in the occupation's recent attacks in Gaza City and al-Nusairat camp within 12 hours on Saturday.
Read more: Israeli occupation airstrikes kill and injure Palestinians in Gaza