CAIRO, March 15. /TASS/. Almost 150 people were killed and 300 were injured in the 24 hours by Israeli bombings and artillery strike of various areas of the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported.

"In the past 24 hours, 149 people died and 300 were injured," the Health Ministry said on its Telegram channel, adding that the "total death toll of the Israeli aggression has increased to 31,490, with a total of 73,439 people injured." Some bodies remain under the debris, and medical and rescue personnel are unable to reach them.

The situation in the Middle East sharply escalated following an incursion of Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip into Israel on October 7. 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.