House Passes Measure to Block Use of Gaza Casualty Statistics

The amendment to the State Department Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act of 2025, introduced by Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.), passed with a 269-144 vote. The legislation restricts officials from relying on data from the ministry, which Moskowitz characterized as an arm of Hamas, despite the agency's history of being cited by U.S. departments and international observers.

Rep. Tlaib, the only Palestinian-American in Congress, condemned the measure during floor debate. She argued the vote serves to dehumanize Palestinians and obscure the scale of the humanitarian crisis, noting that the ministry's figures have historically aligned with assessments from the United Nations and even the Israeli military. Rep. Lee echoed these concerns, stating that the ministry’s data remains a primary source of information in a region where Israel has barred foreign journalists and restricted independent reporting.

While proponents argue against using statistics provided by a militant-run entity, the State Department has previously utilized these same reports to monitor conflict impacts. Former officials, including Tariq Habash, suggested the amendment follows a pattern of administration officials casting doubt on death tolls that independent human rights organizations deem credible. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, at least 37,765 Palestinians have been killed during the 265-day assault, a figure that remains at the center of ongoing legal proceedings at the International Court of Justice.