Esra Tekin
13 October 2023•Update: 13 October 2023
ISTANBUL/JERUSALEM
The number of Palestinians killed from a massive Israeli air campaign against the Gaza Strip has risen to 1,537, the Health Ministry said Thursday.
It said the fatalities include 500 children and 276 women.
At least 6,612 people were wounded in the bombardment since Saturday, including 1,644 children and 1,005 women, the ministry said in a statement.
Ten medics were also killed in Israeli attacks, it added.
Israeli forces have launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip in response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.
The conflict began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.
Hamas said the attack was in retaliation for the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.
In response, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.
That has extended to cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.
At least 1,300 Israelis have been killed and more than 3,300 wounded in the Hamas attack, according to official figures.
