GAZA CITY
At least 19 Palestinian medics have been killed in ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip, according to a Health Ministry official.
"Israeli army has attacked more than 35 ambulances, 17 hospitals and 102 medics, of which 19 were killed," ministry undersecretary Youssef Abul Reish told a press conference late Saturday.
He said that 10 hospitals in the Gaza Strip have been forced to shut down because of the Israeli bombardment.
"The ongoing Israeli attacks have led to the closure of scores of health facilities in the strip," he added.
Israel has been pounding the Gaza Strip – home to 1.8 million people – for the almost past four weeks with the stated aim of halting rocket fire.
As many as 1712 Palestinians – mostly civilians – have been killed and more than 9000 injured in unrelenting Israeli attacks since July 7, according to Palestinian health officials.
Israel, for its part, has confirmed the killing of 63 troops in battles with Palestinian fighters and three civilians in rocket attacks.
The Israeli offensive – codenamed "Operation Protective Edge," is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the densely-populate Gaza Strip – which is home to some 1.8 million Palestinians – within the last six years.
By Mustafa Haboosh
www.aa.com.tr/en
