Gaza death toll reaches 36,171 amid Israeli assault

The Palestinian death toll from Israel's military offensive on the Gaza Strip has surged to 36,171 since last October, the Health Ministry in the besieged enclave said on Wednesday.

At least 81,420 people have also been injured in the assault, the ministry added in a statement.

“Israeli attacks killed 75 people and injured 384 others in the last 24 hours,” the ministry said.

“Many people are still trapped under rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them,” it added.

Israel has continued its brutal offensive on the Palestinian enclave since Oct. 7, 2023 following a Hamas attack despite a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire in the enclave.

Nearly eight months into the Israeli war, vast swathes of Gaza lay in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel stands accused of “genocide” at the International Court of Justice, which in its latest ruling has ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its operation in the southern city of Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.