The death toll in the Gaza Strip has surged to 62,192, the majority of whom are children and women, since the start of Israel’s brutal aggression on October 7, 2023, medical sources confirmed on Thursday.

According to the same sources, the overall number of casualties, including the wounded, has now reached 157,114, with many victims still trapped under rubble and inaccessible to ambulances and civil defense teams.

In the past 24 hours alone, 70 Palestinians were killed and 356 others wounded and admitted to hospitals across Gaza. Among the victims were 18 aid-seekers who were killed while seeking humanitarian assistance, with 117 others injured, raising the totals for this group to 2,036 dead and 15,046 wounded.

Since March 18, following Israel’s violation of the ceasefire agreement, the death toll has risen to 10,646, with 45,073 wounded.

Medical authorities also reported two deaths in the past 24 hours due to starvation and malnutrition, bringing the total deaths from hunger to 271, including 112 children, highlighting the devastating humanitarian crisis caused by the ongoing siege and blockade.

These figures underscore the systematic targeting of civilians and the deliberate campaign of violence, deprivation, and destruction carried out by Israeli forces in Gaza, drawing widespread condemnation from human rights organizations and the international community. (ILKHA)