GAZA CITY: The Health Ministry in Gaza on Tuesday reported that 792 Palestinians have been killed in the week since Israel resumed its bombardment of the besieged territory, including 62 in the past 24 hours.
According to the ministry’s statement, the death toll since the war began on 7 October 2023 has now reached 50,144, with 1,663 injured since the renewed strikes. The overall number of wounded stands at more than 113,000.
Among the latest victims were three children and their parents, who were killed in a strike on their tent near the southern city of Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital, which has been overwhelmed with casualties.
Israel maintains that its military campaign targets Hamas fighters, whom it blames for operating within civilian areas.
The Israeli government claims to have killed around 20,000 militants, though it has not provided independent evidence to substantiate the figure.
Israel expands evacuation orders in northern Gaza
The Israeli military has expanded its evacuation orders to tens of thousands of Palestinians across northern Gaza.
Residents in Jabalia, Beit Lahiya, Beit Hanoun, and Shejaia have been instructed to leave, with additional orders issued for areas in Khan Younis and Rafah in the south.
“For your safety, you must move immediately south to known shelters,” the Israeli army stated in its evacuation orders.
Most of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents have already been displaced multiple times over the course of the war, which has now entered its 18th month.
Meanwhile, nine members of the Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) remain missing for a third consecutive day after they failed to return from a rescue mission in Rafah, southern Gaza.
According to PRCS, the team was responding to reports of casualties in the al-Hashaashin neighbourhood on Sunday when they were “besieged” by Israeli forces.
Their whereabouts remain unknown, and Israeli authorities have refused to facilitate search efforts through international organisations.
“The Palestine Red Crescent expresses its deep concern for the safety of its teams and holds the Israeli occupation authorities fully responsible for their fate,” PRCS said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).
