Gaza's Death Toll Rises To 1191

The Palestinian death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since July 7 has risen to 1191, the Palestinian Health Ministry said Tuesday.



Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qodra added that some 7000 Palestinians were also injured by Israeli attacks.



He said the death toll included 251 children, 94 women and 50 elderly Palestinians.



Al-Qodra added that injured Gazans also included more than 1980 children, 1175 women and 259 elderly Palestinians.



"Two people, including a medical doctor, were killed in an Israeli attack on a car affiliated to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in northern Gaza on Tuesday," al-Qodra told Anadolu Agency.



Al-Qodra said earlier that ten Palestinians were killed by Israeli shelling in the northern Gaza Strip Jabalia camp.



Since July 7, Israel has pounded the Gaza Strip – from air, land and sea – with devastating bombardments with the ostensible aim of halting rocket fire from the strip.



Israel claims that the offensive, now in its fourth week, aims at halting rocket fire from the blockaded Palestinian territory.



At least 56 Israelis – 53 soldiers and three civilians – have been killed since the hostilities began.



Israel's military operation, dubbed operation "Protective Edge," is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the densely-populate Gaza Strip – which is home to some 1.8 million Palestinians – within the last six years.



In 2008/9, over 1500 Palestinians were killed in Israel's three-week-long operation "Cast Lead."



By Nour al-Masri



englishnews@aa.com.tr



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