Death toll in Israel-Hamas conflict surpasses 9,700, Gaza officials report

The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced on Sunday that the death toll in the ongoing conflict with Israel has reached 9,770. The violence, which has persisted for over a month, intensified despite international calls for a ceasefire.

Israeli forces continued their operations against Hamas, the governing body in Gaza, following the worst assault in Israel’s history. On Sunday, ground conflicts intensified in the northern regions of the densely populated Gaza Strip, impacting thousands of civilians.

The latest casualties occurred when an Israeli air raid struck the Al-Maghazi refugee camp, leading to the deaths of 45 people, according to the Gaza health officials. Among the victims were children, with entire families affected by the destruction of residential areas.

Journalist Mohammed Alaloul, a witness to the devastation, lost two of his sons and his brother in the attack, while other family members sustained injuries. The Israeli military has stated that they are investigating the operations in the area during the time of the incident.

Children have been significantly affected, with the ministry noting that at least 4,800 minors have been killed since the beginning of hostilities. The strikes on Gaza were in response to attacks by Hamas militants in southern Israel on October 7, which claimed the lives of over 1,400 people, predominantly civilians.