By Ahmed Asmar
ANKARA (AA) – A total of 765 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli army bombing as of the third day of fighting between Israel and Palestinian groups in Gaza, according to a statement.
The Health Ministry in Gaza said in an update that over 4,000 Palestinians have also been wounded by the Israeli bombing.
In a previous statement, the Health Ministry noted that at least 143 children and 105 women had been killed in the attacks on Gaza.
Over the past the three days, the Gaza Strip came under heavy and intensified Israeli bombing from the air and ground, leaving hundreds dead in addition to large-scale destruction across residential areas.
While the Israeli army claims to be targeting military installations and sites for the Hamas and Islamic Jihad groups, the Gaza-based Interior Ministry says all the Israeli targets were civilian residential areas.
Palestinian group Hamas launched Operation Al-Aqsa Flood against Israel early Saturday, firing a barrage of rockets and infiltrating Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the surprise attack was in response to the storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem and growing settler violence against Palestinians.
In retaliation, the Israeli military launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
At least 900 Israelis have been killed and over 2,600 others wounded in the fighting, according to the Israeli Health Ministry.