Palestinian Death Toll Exceeds 24,000 as Israel Continues to Pound Gaza

Israeli airstrikes pounded Gaza City while ground forces engaged militants in the southern region on Monday, following the United States’ suggestion to scale back operations. Palestinian authorities reported the death toll in the enclave surpassing 24,000.

In the past 24 hours alone, the ministry reported 132 Palestinians killed and 252 others wounded in the Strip.

Read also: Caretaker PM Kakar Bans New Year Celebrations, Expresses Solidarity with Palestinians

This brings the overall count to 24,100 fatalities and 60,834 injuries since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas conflict on October 7, 2023. The situation remains dire, with the toll continuing to rise in the beleaguered Palestinian enclave.

In a significant development, South Africa has accused Israel of genocide in its conflict with Hamas, an allegation firmly rejected by Israel. While the full case may take years, the United Nations’ top court is poised to rule within weeks on South Africa’s plea for an immediate suspension of Israel’s offensive. The compliance of Israel with any potential court order remains uncertain.

The war, triggered by a Hamas attack on October 7 from Gaza into southern Israel, resulted in approximately 1,200 casualties, with around 250 individuals taken hostage by militants. The situation continues to unfold with both regional and international implications.