Gaza Health Ministry: Israeli offensive death toll reaches 71,824, reports 21 new martyrs

GAZA, Feb. 04 (YPA)- The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza announced on Wednesday that the cumulative death toll from the ongoing Israeli offensive has reached 71,824 martyrs, with 171,608 injured since the aggression began on October 7, 2023.

In its daily report, the ministry confirmed Gaza’s hospitals as a result from the latest Israeli strikes on the Strip received 21 dead and 38 wounded.

It stressed that many victims remain trapped under rubble or on roadsides, as rescue teams cannot reach them.

The report revealed that since the ceasefire ended November 11th, casualties have reached 556 martyrs and 1,500 injuries, with 717 bodies recovered from previous attacks.

Earlier Palestinian media reports cited 18 martyrs from Wednesday’s bombardment.

For its part, the Hamas movement strongly condemned the renewed Israeli bombardment, describing it as a direct continuation of the war of genocide and aggression.

In a statement, the movement dismissed Israeli claims justifying the escalation as flimsy pretexts to justify killing civilians, accusing Israel of seeking to impose a permanent reality of abuse and terror in Gaza while ignoring ceasefire agreements.

The statement called on mediators and guarantor states to take a firm stance against Netanyahu’s actions, asserting that the ongoing aggression deliberately sabotages ceasefire efforts.

AA