Palestinian death toll from Israeli fire in West Bank tops 50: Health Ministry

By Anadolu staff

RAMALLAH, Palestine (AA) - At least 51 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army fire in the occupied West Bank since Saturday, according to its Health Ministry.

A statement said 16 were shot dead Friday by Israeli forces in the occupied territory.

At least 1,900 Palestinians were killed in Gaza and nearly 7,700 injured in ongoing Israeli airstrikes on the seaside enclave, it said.

Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip in response to a military offensive by the Palestinian group Hamas in Israeli territories.

The conflict began Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood -- a multi-pronged surprise attack including a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel via land, sea and air.

Hamas said the operation was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and Israeli settlers’ growing violence against Palestinians.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets within the Gaza Strip.

That response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening the living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.

At least 1,400 Israelis were killed and over 3,500 injured in the Hamas attack, according to Israeli media.