GAZA: The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing relentless Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7 last year has reached 36,550, mostly women and children, the Health Ministry in the besieged Palestinian enclave said on Tuesday.
In addition to the staggering loss of life, at least 82,959 Palestinians have been wounded in the ongoing Israeli onslaught, the ministry reported.
The latest escalation in violence has seen Israeli forces conducting seven “massacres” against Palestinian families in Gaza within the past 24 hours, resulting in the deaths of 71 people and leaving 182 others injured, the ministry said. “Israeli forces killed 71 people, and injured 182 others in seven ‘massacres’ against families in the last 24 hours,” the ministry said.
Amid the chaos and devastation, rescuers are facing immense challenges in reaching those trapped under rubble and stranded on impassable roads, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis gripping the region. “Many people are still trapped under rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them,” it added.
Despite mounting international condemnation and a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire, Israel has continued its brutal offensive in Gaza since October 7, 2023.
Vast swathes of Gaza have turned into ruins, compounded by a crippling blockade that severely restricts access to essential resources such as food, clean water, and medicine.
The gravity of the situation has prompted accusations of “genocide” leveled against Israel, with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) issuing a ruling demanding an immediate cessation of Tel Aviv’s operations in Rafah. This particular area had served as a refuge for over a million Palestinians before becoming the target of the Israeli invasion on May 6.
