So how are the statistics gathered and how accurate are they? Until the first months of this war, the number of people killed in Gaza was calculated from counting bodies that arrived in hospitals - like those of Asma Hirzallah and her children. Medics could log data for all deaths into a centralised computer system, which was based at a Ministry of Health office at al-Shifa hospital, with a back-up at al-Rantissi hospital. However, as conditions became more chaotic and medical sites repeatedly came under attack, this method became less reliable. During the war, Israel says it has targeted hospitals – which have protected status under international law – because Hamas has used them to hide its fighters and infrastructure – something the armed group denies. From the start of 2024, Gazan health officials introduced online forms which relatives could use to report their loved ones dead or missing. According to Mr Wahidi, the head of statistics at the health ministry, most of the names which were recently removed from the official list as part of a new checking process had originally been submitted using these forms. He says that names which are taken off may later be added back "A judicial committee was set up and it looks into all of the cases received," Mr Wahidi says. "To ensure credibility we verify the data so that it will be accurate." During investigations by the judicial committee, some people were found to have died of natural causes – not directly because of the war. When Gazans die from lack of medical treatment, malnutrition or hyperthermia, Mr Wahidi clarifies "these cases are indirect and do not get added to the lists." Other individuals were wrongly listed as dead but then found to have been among thousands of Gazans imprisoned by Israel. Mr Wahidi confirms that in August and then October, a total of more than 3,000 names were removed from the list, saying this was a precautionary measure pending full checks. For some pro-Israel groups, such as media watchdog HonestReporting, this was strong indication of "deliberate manipulation, not honest error".