New Data on Gaza Mortality and Population Growth Sparks Debate

Newly released figures from Gaza’s Health Ministry for 2025 indicate a natural population increase of 1.2 percent, with 50,227 births and 24,650 deaths recorded. An analysis by the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) suggests that 73.4 percent of the recorded deaths were male, challenging previous reports that women and children comprised 70 percent of casualties. The data also notes 5,780 nonviolent deaths in 2025, a figure lower than the 6,061 nonviolent deaths reported in 2022.

These statistics have prompted AIJAC to question the August 2025 famine declaration issued by the United Nations-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). AIJAC argues that the mortality data is inconsistent with famine thresholds. Conversely, the United Nations maintains its assessment, noting that its findings were based on broader measurements of acute malnutrition and food insecurity. The UN further cautioned that non-combat deaths may be underreported due to the collapse of local health infrastructure, though it acknowledged that conditions improved following an October ceasefire.