Gaza death toll rises to 39,445 as Israel kills 45 more Palestinians

By Ahmed Asmar

ANKARA (AA) – At least 45 more Palestinians were killed in Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, pushing up the overall death toll to 39,445 since last Oct. 7, the Health Ministry in the territory said on Wednesday.

A ministry statement added that some 91,073 others have been injured in the assault.

“Israeli forces killed 45 people and injured 77 others in the last 24 hours as a result of the continued Israeli aggression on Gaza,” the ministry said.

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

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, Israel has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian group Hamas.

Nearly ten months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel stands accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which ordered Tel Aviv to immediately halt its military 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.