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Over 48,200 Palestinians killed in Gaza Strip since October 2023 — Health Ministry

The ministry added that over the past 24 hours, medics in the Gaza Strip removed 14 bodies from under the rubble, and 15 wounded Palestinians were brought to hospitals

CAIRO, February 10. /TASS/. More than 48,200 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip due to the actions of the Israeli military since the beginning of the escalation in the enclave in October 2023, the Palestinian Health Ministry reported.

According to the agency, "the death toll has reached 48,208 since the start of Israel’s military operation, while 111,655 were injured." The ministry added that over the past 24 hours, medics in the Gaza Strip removed 14 bodies from under the rubble, and 15 wounded Palestinians were brought to hospitals.

The situation in the Middle East sharply escalated following an incursion of Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip into Israel on October 7, 2023, accompanied by killings of residents of Israeli settlements near the border and taking hostages. Hamas regards the attack as a response to Israeli actions against the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Israel declared a complete siege of the Gaza Strip and started delivering strikes on that area and parts of Lebanon and Syria. That was followed by an Israeli ground operation in the enclave.

Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said on January 15 that thanks to the mediation of Egypt, Qatar, and the United States, Israel and Hamas had reached an agreement to hold a ceasefire in Gaza and release hostages held in the enclave. During the 42-day first phase of the deal, Hamas will release 33 hostages in exchange for Palestinian prisoners from Israeli custody. The ceasefire came into force on January 19.