How would you have it phrased ?
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties "An estimated total of 70–85 million people perished"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_War_II_casualties "An estimated total of 70–85 million people perished"
> How would you have it phrased?
Without commenting on this particular event, the passive voice typically doesn't identify the actor and can thus be used to omit or obscure responsibility.
Consider the classic 'mistakes were made' vs. active alternatives such as 'we made mistakes' or 'they made mistakes'.
Without taking sides I can see how difficult it can be to find wording that various interests can tolerate.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Al-Aqsa_Intifada says it lasted "4 years, 4 months, 1 week and 4 days"
It also has the Wikipedia standard conflict "Casualties and losses" tally.