Palestinian death toll from Israel's attacks on Gaza reaches 1,537, including 500 children

By Muhammed Emin Canik, Abdel Ra'ouf Arnaout and Mahmut Geldi

ISTANBUL/JERUSALEM (AA) - The number of Palestinians killed from Israeli attacks on the besieged Gaza Strip has risen to 1,537, the Health Ministry in Gaza announced Thursday.

The statement noted that the dead included 500 children and 276 women, with 6,612 people injured.

Meanwhile, the Israeli death toll from Operation Al-Aqsa Flood launched from Gaza into Israel by the Palestinian Hamas group’s armed wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, has reached 1,300, and the number of wounded was reported to be 3,300, the Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation (KAN) reported.

KAN also said that 350 of the wounded Israelis are in critical condition.

In a dramatic escalation of Middle East tensions, Israeli forces launched a sustained and forceful military campaign against the Gaza Strip in response to the military offensive by Hamas.

The conflict began on Saturday when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included 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 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. Israel's response has extended into cutting water and electricity supplies to Gaza, further worsening living conditions in an area that has reeled under a crippling siege since 2007.

*Writing by Esra Tekin in Istanbul