All news

Death toll from Israeli strikes on Gaza nears 31,300 — Health Ministry

The statement stresses that 72% of the dead and injured are women and children

CAIRO, March 13. /TASS/. The number of Palestinians killed since the beginning of the Israeli military operation in the Gaza Strip is approaching 31,300, over 73,000 people have been injured, the enclave’s Health Ministry said on its Telegram channel.

"The death toll as a result of Israeli aggression in Gaza has increased to 31,272 since October last year," the ministry said, adding that at least 73,024 people have been injured. According to the Health Ministry, over the past day, 88 people have been killed and 135 more have been injured in the enclave.

The statement stresses that 72% of the dead and injured are women and children. The bodies of some of the dead remain under the rubble and on the roads of the enclave, Israeli forces do not allow ambulance and emergency services crews to reach them.

Tensions flared up in the Middle East after the infiltration of Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory on October 7, 2023, accompanied by the killing of residents of border settlements and the taking of hostages. Israel declared a total blockade of Gaza and began to conduct strikes on the sector as well as certain areas of Lebanon and Syria. On December 1, the Israeli army accused Hamas of violating the truce in force since November 24 and announced that it was resuming hostilities in the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian authorities have blamed the United States for the resumption of Israeli aggression.