GAZA, Palestine

The Palestinian death toll from the Israeli airstrikes on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7 rose to 7,326, the Health Ministry in Gaza announced on Friday.

Ashraf al-Qedra, a ministry spokesman, said during a news conference: "The death toll from the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip has reached 7,326, including 3,038 children, 1,726 women, and 414 elderly individuals. In addition, 18,484 citizens have been injured since Oct. 7.”

He pointed out that "the Israeli occupation committed 41 massacres in the past hours, claiming the lives of 298 martyrs, the majority of whom were displaced to the southern Gaza Strip, which the Israeli occupation claims is safe."

He also accused Israel of "deliberately committing 772 massacres against families."

"We received reports of 1,700 missing people, including 940 children still under the rubble," the spokesman said.

He further said that 104 medical personnel have been killed and 25 ambulances have become out of service due to the Israeli attacks.

"The Israeli occupation deliberately targeted 57 health institutions, and put 12 hospitals and 32 primary care centers out of service, as a result of the targeting or failure to bring in fuel," al-Qedra said.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat in Ankara