GAZA CITY, Palestine

The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has risen to 17,700, with 48,780 injured since Oct. 7, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza announced on Saturday evening.

In a statement, the ministry spokesperson, Ashraf al-Qedra, stated: “Over the past few hours, 210 martyrs and 2,300 injuries have been admitted to hospitals, with a significant number of victims still trapped under rubble and in the streets.”

Al-Qedra added that in the last few hours, the Israeli forces committed 20 appalling massacres, wiping out entire families. “We have received numerous pleas from citizens in residential areas and schools, including Khalifa School in northern Gaza, where the occupation forces perpetrated a gruesome massacre resulting in dozens of martyrs and wounded.”

* Writing by Rania Abu Shamala​​​​​​​