Israel announces civilian death toll in Gaza war, claiming 16,000 deaths compared to Hamas' claim of 35,000. Israel states it has killed over 14,000 terrorists. UN has endorsed Hamas' numbers. Israel emphasizes civilian casualties are tragic, blames Hamas for using human shields.
Key Points
Israel claims 16,000 civilians killed in Gaza war
Israel asserts killing over 14,000 terrorists
UN has supported Hamas' numbers
Israel blames Hamas for civilian casualties due to use of human shields
Pros
Israel providing transparency by releasing civilian death toll estimates
Israel highlighting challenges of urban warfare and emphasizing adherence to laws of armed conflict
Cons
Discrepancy between Israel's and Hamas' reported civilian death toll numbers