Death Toll From Israel's Gaza Onslaught Rises To 2047

The Palestinian death toll from Israel's ongoing military onslaught on the Gaza Strip has risen to 2047, according to a Health Ministry spokesman.



"Twenty-one Palestinians have been killed since the Israeli occupation violated the lull on Tuesday," ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qodra told Anadolu Agency on Wednesday.



He said that more than 130 Palestinians have been injured in Israeli attacks since Tuesday.



The latest casualties bring to 2047 the total number of Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks since hostilities began on July 7, according to al-Qodra.



Israeli and Palestinian negotiators departed Cairo on Tuesday and Wednesday respectively following the collapse of indirect talks aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire.



Israel claims it pulled its delegation from Cairo after rockets were fired from Gaza on Tuesday at Israeli cities.



Since then, Israel has carried out strikes across the coastal strip, which is home to some 1.8 million Palestinians.



Hamas, for its part, denies any knowledge of Tuesday's alleged rocket barrage, accusing Israel of seeking to derail the indirect negotiations in Cairo aimed at reaching a permanent ceasefire arrangement.



Since hostilities began, at least 67 Israelis – 64 soldiers and three civilians – have been killed, according to Israeli figures.



By Mustafa Haboosh



englishnews@aa.com.tr



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