The average age of Palestinian deaths dropped from 75.5 to 35 years.

A new study found that the average life expectancy in Gaza was nearly cut in half during the first year of Israeli military operations in Gaza. Tens of thousands of children have been killed in the bombing.

The paper, published by the prominent British medical journal, the Lancet, found, “life expectancy in the Gaza Strip decreased by 34·9 years during the first 12 months of the war, about half (–46·3%) the prewar level of 75·5 years.” It continues, “Life expectancy losses were larger for males (–38·0 years [–51·6%]) than for females, but nonetheless, females also suffered large losses (–29·9 years [–38·6%]).”

The authors say they only used data from those who were directly killed in the conflict and not indirect deaths. Often, indirect deaths exceed those directly killed in the war, and the authors predict the decrease in life expectancy is higher than what was shown in the analysis of the direct deaths data.

“Our approach to estimating life expectancy losses in this study is conservative as it ignores the indirect effect of the war on mortality.” It continues, “Even ignoring this indirect effect, results show that the ongoing war in the Gaza Strip generated a life expectancy loss of more than 30 years during the first 12 months of the war, nearly halving prewar levels. Actual losses are likely to be higher.”

That the life expectancy in Gaza has dropped significantly over the past year is unsurprising as the horrific tactics deployed by Israel have often targeted children. During the war, Israel used a program called “Where’s Daddy.” Under the program, Tel Aviv waited until suspected Hamas fighters were at their homes to bomb them, often killing entire families.

Additionally, American doctors who have worked in Gaza during the Israeli genocide have reported that Palestinian children are often targeted by Israeli snipers. A group of British doctors later issued a similar statement.

Reprint from Antiwar.com