Death Count Of Gaza Hits 21,320, Says Health Ministry

The health ministry in the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip said Thursday at least 21,320 people have been killed in the Palestinian territory since war with Israel erupted on October 7.

Another 55,603 people have been wounded, health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra said in a televised press conference, nearly 12 weeks into the fighting triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel.

Qudra said at least 210 people have been killed in Gaza over the past 24 hours "including entire families".

The health ministry in a statement also raised the alarm over the spread of disease among children and the overall lack of water, food and medicine in the besieged Strip.

"The humanitarian and health conditions of the displaced have reached catastrophic levels," it said.

As the fighting between Hamas militants and Israeli forces raged in the southern city of Khan Yunis, health officials called for medical facilities to be protected.

"The Israeli occupation is repeatedly targeting the vicinity of Nasser hospital and Al-Amal hospital, affiliated with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society," the health ministry said.

Earlier Thursday, the Red Crescent said it feared that the intensification of deadly strikes near Al-Amal hospital could be "a prelude to targeting it directly".

Israel has vowed to destroy Hamas in retaliation for its October 7 attack and officials have said the war could last months more.

The Hamas attack resulted in the death of around 1,140 people in Israel, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli figures.

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