Israeli death toll in Palestine conflict rises to 900

By Zain Khalil

JERUSALEM (AA) – The Israeli death toll since Saturday’s surprise attack by Palestinian group Hamas has risen from 800 to 900, according to the Israeli Health Ministry.

“The number of Israeli deaths since the beginning of the war has risen to 900,” Israeli Channel 12 reported, citing the Health Ministry.

Israeli injuries have risen to 2,616, including 380 in critical condition.

In a related development, the Israeli army revealed the names of 12 military personnel who were recently killed in the conflict with Palestinian gunmen, pushing the death toll of Israeli forces to 85, according to the Israeli daily Maariv.

The Palestinian death toll also rose to 560, while injuries reached 2,900, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said on Monday.

Gaza-based resistance group Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel early on Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets. It said the surprise attack was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and growing settler violence.

In retaliation, the Israeli army launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

*Writing by Mahmoud Barakat