• Arete@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    The average age in Gaza is like 17. Do you truly believe Hamas is out checking birth certificates? Statistically, half their forces are minors. Combined with estimates of Hamas military losses, that might make fully half of the 10k dead children Hamas child soldiers. While still horrifying, that meaningfully changes how the reported casualty counts should be interpreted. My point is, and has always been, that interpreting casualty numbers that a militant group releases with clear propaganda intent in a light most favorable to them is at best stupid and at worst willfully ignorant.

    • FishFace@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      You say this:

      interpreting casualty numbers that a militant group releases with clear propaganda intent in a light most favorable to them…

      but just said this:

      Statistically, half their forces are minors.

      Pull the other one. If all you wanted was for people not to interpret casualty numbers “in a light most favourable to Hamas” you’d be acknowledging how high the death toll is while making your point instead of trying to distract from it.