GAZA, July 5 (V7N) – At least 138 people were killed and 625 others injured in a single day as Israeli forces intensified their military operations across the Gaza Strip, according to a statement released on Friday evening by the Ministry of Health in Gaza.
The sharp rise in casualties follows another wave of airstrikes and ground shelling that targeted densely populated neighborhoods, refugee camps, and civilian infrastructure, worsening the already catastrophic humanitarian crisis in the enclave.
Health authorities in Gaza, governed by Hamas, reported that the dead include women and children, though exact figures by category were not immediately available. The statement also indicated that many of the injured are in critical condition, and hospitals—already overwhelmed and under-equipped—are struggling to provide emergency care amid shortages of fuel, medicine, and electricity.
This latest escalation comes as the war between Israel and Hamas enters its ninth month, with no signs of de-escalation despite mounting international pressure. Rights organizations and United Nations agencies have repeatedly warned that the scale of civilian casualties and destruction in Gaza may amount to serious violations of international humanitarian law.
The Gaza Strip remains under near-total blockade, with limited access to humanitarian aid. Several international relief convoys remain stalled at border crossings, awaiting Israeli clearance. Meanwhile, Israeli military officials claim their operations are aimed at dismantling Hamas infrastructure and eliminating threats to Israeli security, though critics argue the toll on civilians is disproportionate and indiscriminate.
The Anadolu Agency first reported the figures cited by Gaza’s health ministry on Friday evening. Independent verification of casualty numbers remains difficult due to restricted access for foreign media and aid workers in the territory.
As the death toll climbs and infrastructure crumbles, Gaza’s civilian population faces a worsening humanitarian nightmare with no immediate prospect of reprieve.
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