Death toll in Gaza hits 27,478 as fighting rages

Israeli bombardments of Gaza have killed 28,478 Palestinians and injured over 66,000 people, mostly women and children. According to a statement by the Gaza health ministry, at least 113 people have been killed and 205 others injured in Israeli attacks in the last 24 hours alone.

No fewer than 27,478 Palestinians have been killed and 66,835 others injured in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7, the Health Ministry in the enclave announced.

“Most of the victims were children and women,” the ministry said.

According to the statement, at least 113 people have been killed and 205 others injured in Israeli attacks in the last 24 hours alone.

It added that “Many of the victims are still trapped under rubble and on the road and rescuers can’t reach them.”

The soaring death toll coincides with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken who is on the Middle East crisis tour as he looks to seek a new truce and “an enduring end” to Israel’s war on Gaza.

Mr Blinken held talks in Riyadh with the Saudi crown prince on Monday and he is expected to visit Egypt on Tuesday before flying to Qatar where he will meet the emir and the prime minister.

Israel has launched a lethal offensive in the Gaza Strip following a Hamas attack on October 7 that killed approximately 1,200 people, according to Tel Aviv.

The UN said the Israeli offensive has internally displaced 85% of Gaza’s population, resulting in serious shortages of food, potable water, and medicines, while 60% of the enclave’s infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed.