Since October 7, 2023, the death toll in Gaza due to Israel’s ongoing bombardment has reached 4,137, as reported by the Palestinian health ministry on Friday. The number of injured has also increased to 13,300, according to ministry spokesman Ashraf Qudra.
He mentioned that over 1,000 people are currently missing. Additionally, 16 Palestinian Christians were among those killed in a direct Israeli attack on a Greek Orthodox church in Gaza City on Thursday evening. Seven hospitals in the Gaza strip are now out of service due to Israeli attacks, as stated by Qudra, as reported by the Turkish news agency Anadolu Ajansi.
The conflict in Gaza originated from Hamas’ initiation of Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, involving various attacks on Israel by land, sea, and air, in retaliation for incidents at the Al-Aqsa Mosque and escalating violence by Israeli settlers.
In response, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron, targeting Hamas in the Gaza Strip while increasing operations in the occupied West Bank. Officials have reported that more than 1,400 people in Israel have lost their lives in the conflict.