LONDON (Dispatches) -- A 
recent correspondence published in the medical journal The Lancet estimates that Israel’s military aggression in the Gaza Strip have resulted in the loss of approximately three million life-years, underscoring the scale of civilian casualties and the long-term human cost of the conflict.
The study, which analyzed mortality and population data for 2022 provided by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, measured “life-years lost,” a metric representing the total expected years of life that Palestinians who died prematurely would have lived under normal circumstances.
According to the report, male Palestinians have lost an estimated 2,006,379 life-years, while females have lost 1,075,984, reflecting the disproportionate impact on men and boys of potential military age. 
The analysis also highlights that over one million life-years were lost among children under the age of 15. Most of the deaths involved civilians, even when the definition of a potential combatant included all men and boys between 15 and 44 years.
The correspondence comes weeks after a ceasefire was agreed in Gaza. Despite the truce, Israeli airstrikes have continued sporadically, with over 200 Palestinians reportedly killed in recent attacks. On October 29 alone, Israeli forces killed more than 100 Palestinians within a 12-hour period, citing violations of the ceasefire by Hamas.
The Gaza Ministry of Health currently reports a total of just over 71,000 fatalities. However, previous studies, including The Lancet, suggest the actual toll could be significantly higher. 
Estimates accounting for indirect deaths caused by the collapse of health services, famine, and disease indicate that total Palestinian mortality could range from 149,000 to nearly 600,000.
The findings underline the severe long-term consequences of the Israeli aggression, as the life-years lost metric captures not only the immediate deaths but also the broader societal impact of premature mortality, including lost contributions to families, communities, and the economy.
Experts warn that the high civilian death toll and widespread disruption to health and social services have deepened the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with repercussions likely to be felt for generations.
The Lancet’s correspondence adds to a growing body of research documenting the human cost of the ongoing war, emphasizing that even temporary pauses in fighting may not significantly mitigate the long-term loss of life and societal damage inflicted on Palestinian communities.