Lancet: Life Expectancy in Gaza Halved in First Year of Israeli Onslaught

That's just from direct losses to bombs, not including the more numerous famine deaths

Published: April 15, 2025, 3:54 am

    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.

    Source: Antiwar.com

    Kyle Anzalone

    marko@freewestmedia.com

    Consider donating to support our work

    Help us to produce more articles like this. FreeWestMedia is depending on donations from our readers to keep going. With your help, we expose the mainstream fake news agenda.

    Keep ​your language polite​. Readers from many different countries visit and contribute to Free West Media and we must therefore obey the rules in​,​ for example​, ​Germany. Illegal content will be deleted.

    If you have been approved to post comments without preview from FWM, you are responsible for violation​s​ of​ any​ law. This means that FWM may be forced to cooperate with authorities in a possible crime investigation.

    If your comments are subject to preview ​by FWM, please be patient. We continually review comments but depending on the time of day it can take up to several hours before your comment is reviewed.

    We reserve the right to del​ete​ comments that are offensive, contain slander or foul language, or are irrelevant to the discussion.

    No comments.

    By submitting a comment you grant Free West Media a perpetual license to reproduce your words and name/web site in attribution. Inappropriate and irrelevant comments will be removed at an admin’s discretion. Your email is used for verification purposes only, it will never be shared.

    Pentagon Admits Iranian Missile Hit Communications Dome at US Qatar Base

    Iran's short-range ballistics are much more accurate than mediums

    Iran Reveals President Was Lightly Wounded in Israeli June Strike

    "The attackers targeted the building's entrances and exits by firing six bombs to block escape routes and cut off air flow."

    US Army to Quadruple(!) Patriot Missile Procurement

    Yemen, Israel, Iran, and Ukraine are stripping magazine depth vs China

    China’s Satellite Pair Docks in Orbit for First-Ever Refuelling Mission

    US Space Force hopes to start doing first tests toward on-orbit servicing in 2026

    US to Spend $1.5bn Building New Bases and Facilities for the Israeli Military

    Roughly 20 separate projects

    Israel Is Enforcing Gaza Evacuations by Dropping Grenades on Civilians From Drones

    “It was clear that they were trying to return to their homes. None of them were armed. We never fired warning shots."

    Israel Wants to Build the Most Moral Concentration Camp in the World

    "The Gaza war has no military objectives, other than unacceptable ones: a second Nakba and/or a 'voluntary' transfer of all Palestinians"

    US Envoy: Kurds “Slow” to Integrate Under ex-ISIS Jolani

    “There is only one road" - US Envoy Tom Barrack

    This Is Now Trump’s War

    Goodbye Trump Process, hello East Ukraine

    US to Sanction UN Rapporteur for Palestine Critical of Israeli Atrocities

    As Netanyahu nominates Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize

    Go to archive