Date: August 22, 2025
Author: NewsNeck
As Israeli military operations intensify across Gaza City, a leaked Israeli military database has revealed a devastating statistic: 83% of Gaza war dead are civilians. This alarming figure emerges amid renewed urgent gaza israel ceasefire calls from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who warns of catastrophic consequences if Israel’s planned offensive on Gaza City proceeds.
Civilian Casualties: A Unprecedented Modern Conflict Toll
The leaked data, originally reported by The Guardian, *+972 Magazine*, and Local Call, comes from a classified Israeli intelligence database that tracks militant casualties. As of May 2025—19 months into the war—Israeli military intelligence had confirmed or listed as “probably dead” approximately 8,900 fighters from Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) .
However, during the same period, the Gaza Health Ministry reported over 53,000 total deaths from Israeli attacks. This means that only 17% of those killed were militants, while the remaining 83% were civilians.
This ratio is among the highest in modern warfare, surpassing even the Syrian and Sudanese civil wars. Conflict researchers note that only the Rwandan genocide, the Srebrenica massacre, and Russia’s siege of Mariupol recorded higher civilian death rates.
UN and International Community Demand Ceasefire
With Israel preparing for a full-scale offensive on Gaza City, where one million Palestinians still reside, UN Secretary-General Guterres has intensified calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities.
“It is vital to reach immediately a ceasefire in Gaza,” Guterres stated during the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9). He emphasized the need to “avoid the massive death and destruction that a military operation against Gaza City would inevitably cause.”
The UN human rights office (OHCHR) has reported that entire urban areas in Gaza City are being “totally destroyed,” with intense airstrikes, shelling, and drone bombings targeting residential buildings and shelters housing displaced families. Evacuation orders broadcast via quadcopters and phone calls have forced thousands to flee, though many remain trapped under continuous bombardment.
Humanitarian Crisis Worsens
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire. Acute malnutrition among children in Gaza City has soared to 28.5%—more than one in four children—a dramatic increase from the 4.5% rate recorded during the temporary ceasefire in early March. Across Gaza, acute malnutrition has risen to nearly 16%, triple the rate from March.
The UN agency for Palestinians (UNRWA) has warned that its services in Gaza City are at “severe risk.” The agency provided critical aid in July, including medical consultations, malnutrition screenings, and water delivery to hundreds of thousands of people. However, intensified military operations now threaten these lifelines.
Hamas’s Strategy and Regional Pressures
Hamas, facing unprecedented military and diplomatic pressure, has endorsed a new ceasefire proposal mediated by Egypt and Qatar. The group’s strategy, according to analysts, is to survive the war and leverage the remaining Israeli hostages as its primary bargaining chip.
A Hamas source told the BBC that the group agreed to the proposal “without any amendments or conditions.” The deal would involve a 60-day truce during which Hamas would release 20 living hostages and the bodies of 18 others in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has insisted that Israel will only accept a deal if “all the hostages are released in one go.” He has repeatedly vowed to continue the war until Hamas is disarmed and defeated.
Civilian Perspectives and Future Concerns
For Palestinians in Gaza, the immediate concern is mass displacement. Israel’s planned offensive on Gaza City aims to drive hundreds of thousands of residents toward southern Gaza, near the Egyptian border, with eventual plans to encourage emigration to other countries.
Many civilians blame both Israel and Hamas for their suffering. One woman in Gaza City told the BBC, “Hamas and its demands do not represent me. I want to live in peace. Our only demand is peace and safety for our children.”
Conclusion: A Call for Humanity and Diplomacy
The leaked Israeli data confirming the staggering civilian death toll in Gaza Israel Ceasefire has intensified global scrutiny of Israel’s military tactics and deepened calls for accountability. With the International Criminal Court having issued arrest warrants for Israeli leaders over alleged war crimes and the UN warning of potential genocide, the international community continues to pressure both sides to agree to a ceasefire.
As diplomatic efforts continue, the immediate priority remains saving civilian lives and alleviating the humanitarian catastrophe. The world watches anxiously, hoping for a breakthrough that ends the bloodshed and paves the way for lasting peace.
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