KABUL (Pajhwok): At least 710 Palestinians have been killed in renewed airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, where Israeli forces have launched a ground offensive as well, media reports said on Thursday.
Another 900 Palestinians had also been injured in Israeli attacks since Tuesday, Al Jazeera Arabic quoted Gaza Health Ministry spokesperson Khalil Al-Daqran as saying.
The channel reported many of those wounded in the Israeli assault died due to the impossibility of providing urgent medical care and the shortage of basic equipment and medicines.
The ministry spokesman added that about 70 per cent of those injured were children and women. Most of the wounded are said to be in serious condition.
On Wednesday, the Israeli military announced the launch of “targeted ground activities” in Gaza, partially recapturing a key area.
Citing the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), CNN said, the offensive in the central and southern Gaza Strip was aimed to expand the security zone and set up a partial buffer between northern and southern Gaza.
IDF added: “As part of the ground activities, the troops expanded their control further to the center of the Netzarim Corridor.”
Meanwhile, the Palestinian group Hamas denounced the latest offensive as a “new and dangerous breach” of the ceasefire agreement signed in January.
Also on Wednesday, the United Nations said one of its international aid workers was killed by “explosive ordnance” at the UN guesthouse in central Gaza. Five others were wounded.
The Palestinian Ministry blamed the Israeli military for the attack, but IDF denied conducting an airstrike in the vicinity of the guesthouse.
In Jerusalem, a protest demonstration was staged against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The protesters accused the Israeli leader of renewing the war to shore up his fragile coalition.
PAN Monitor/mud
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