CAIRO, December 28. /TASS/. The death toll of Israeli strikes in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 21,300, with over 55,600 residents injured, the Palestinian Health Ministry Spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra announced.

"The death toll of the Israeli aggression since October 7 has increased to 21,320, with 55,603 injured," the spokesman said on the Ministry’s Telegram channel.

He also noted that over 1.9 million internally displaced people in the Palestinian enclave - 50% of them being children - suffer from shortage of drinking water, food and medicine.

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.