" 
 :::::::249 is a signifigant number. I see the concern being mentioning the explosives screw ups and not the several other reasons mentioned, though. There is nothing wrong with saying x amount of people died during the conflict leading up to this conflict. The concern is pointing out explosives and not the other reasoning makes Gaza look like they had it coming. When some of it was factional violence related to the conflict. That being said, there is nothing wrong with saying a signifigant number of people died due to the conflicts but it wasn't Israel pulling the trigger. This should get further expansion in the main article regarding the background and a quick line without """""""""""""""" everywhere might work. 
 ::::::I also don't see why we are mentioning kids at all. It reads like it is in only included to assert who the bad guy is. I'm cynical but ""some kids died on both sides"" seems silly and doesn't provide any informaiton that improves the article. Of course kids died. People are starving or getting explosives dropped into their living rooms.  "