CAIRO, December 26. /TASS/. The death toll of Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip has reached 20,915, with almost 55,000 people injured, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported.

"The death toll of the Israeli aggression has reached 20,915 since October 7, with 54,918 injured," the Ministry said on social media.

According to the Ministry, in the past 24 hours alone, "the Israeli occupation force carried out 18 mass murders of entire families," killing a total of 241 people.

The situation in the Middle East sharply escalated following an incursion of Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip into Israel on October 7. Hamas has cast the attack as a response to Israeli actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Israel has declared a complete siege of the Gaza Strip and started a military operation there. Israel also strikes parts of Lebanon and Syria in retaliation for bombardments originating from these countries. Clashes are also taking place in the West Bank.