Gaza's Death Toll Rises To 715

The Palestinian death toll from Israel's devastating military offensive against the Gaza Strip rose to 715 early on Thursday following the death of 20 people, including four children, in fresh Israeli attacks on the blockaded enclave, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry.



"At least 715 people have been killed and 4550 injured in ongoing Israeli attacks so far," ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qodra told Anadolu Agency.



He said Israeli strikes on homes and farmlands early on Thursday left 20 people dead and 31 others injured.



Al-Qodra said six members of the same family, including two children, were killed by an Israeli strike on a western Khan Yunis home. He added that three more people were injured by the same strike.



Al-Qodra said two more Palestinians succumbed on Thursday to wounds they sustained earlier by an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Khan Yunis.



He added that the bulk of Gaza fatalities took place in the eastern Khan Yunis town of Khuza'a.



Al-Qodra said earlier that 81 Gazans were killed by Israeli strikes on Wednesday and 526 more others injured



He said Gaza's fatalities since the beginning of the war included at least 170 children, 79 women and 37 elderly people.



Since July 7, Israel has pummeled the Gaza Strip with fierce air and naval bombardments with the ostensible aim of halting Palestinian rocket fire.



Last week, Israel stepped up its offensive to include ground operations, sending thousands of troops into the embattled coastal enclave.



According to official Israeli figures, 31 Israelis – including 29 soldiers – have been killed since hostilities began.



Israel's operation "Protective Edge" is the self-proclaimed Jewish state's third major offensive against the densely-populated strip – home to some 1.8 million Palestinians – within the last six years.



In 2008/9, over 1500 Palestinians were killed – the vast majority of them civilians – during Israel's three-week-long "Operation Cast Lead."



By Mustafa Haboosh



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