DUBAI, February 19. /TASS/. More than 70 Palestinians were killed on Monday night as a result of Israeli Defense Forces strikes on cities located in the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian news agency WAFA reported.

As the agency says, more than 70 civilians were killed and many, mostly children and women, were injured as a result of Israeli air and artillery strikes on areas in the Nuseirat refugee camp and the cities of Zuwayda and Deir al-Balah.

WAFA also reports that 16 people were killed after an Israeli military attack in the city of Khan Yunis in the south of the Gaza Strip. The bodies of five more, including children, were recovered from the debris in the north of the Palestinian enclave.

The total number of civilians killed since the Palestinian-Israeli conflict began to escalate on October 7 last year has risen to 28,985. At least 68,883 people have been injured.