Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks on Gaza nears 32,000: ministry

An Israeli tank maneuvers amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict near Nir Am, a kibbutz in southern Israel, on March 21, 2024. the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza said Thursday in a statement that the Israeli army killed 65 Palestinians and wounded 92 others during the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 31,988 and injuries to 74,188 since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

GAZA, March 21 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 31,988, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza announced Thursday.

The ministry said in a statement that the Israeli army killed 65 Palestinians and wounded 92 others during the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 31,988 and injuries to 74,188 since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023.

This comes as the Israeli army continues its operations in the Shifa hospital in Gaza City for the fourth day, during which about 600 Palestinians have been apprehended, and more than 140 others have been killed, the Israeli army said in a statement Thursday, claiming all of them are militants.

"Several weapons and intelligence documents" were discovered during searches in the hospital, according to the statement.

Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage.

Airdropped humanitarian aid falls toward the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, seen from near Nir Am, a kibbutz in southern Israel, on March 21, 2024. the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza said Thursday in a statement that the Israeli army killed 65 Palestinians and wounded 92 others during the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 31,988 and injuries to 74,188 since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

Smoke billows in Gaza amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, seen from near Nir Am, a kibbutz in southern Israel, on March 21, 2024. the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza said Thursday in a statement that the Israeli army killed 65 Palestinians and wounded 92 others during the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 31,988 and injuries to 74,188 since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

An Israeli tank maneuvers amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict near Nir Am, a kibbutz in southern Israel, on March 21, 2024. the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza said Thursday in a statement that the Israeli army killed 65 Palestinians and wounded 92 others during the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 31,988 and injuries to 74,188 since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

An Israeli tank is seen amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict near Nir Am, a kibbutz in southern Israel, on March 21, 2024. the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza said Thursday in a statement that the Israeli army killed 65 Palestinians and wounded 92 others during the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 31,988 and injuries to 74,188 since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

Photo taken on March 21, 2024 shows a view of destroyed buildings in the Gaza Strip amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict, seen from near Nir Am, a kibbutz in southern Israel. the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza said Thursday in a statement that the Israeli army killed 65 Palestinians and wounded 92 others during the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 31,988 and injuries to 74,188 since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

An Israeli tank maneuvers amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict near Nir Am, a kibbutz in southern Israel, on March 21, 2024. the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza said Thursday in a statement that the Israeli army killed 65 Palestinians and wounded 92 others during the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll to 31,988 and injuries to 74,188 since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out on Oct. 7, 2023. Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against a Hamas rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 200 were taken hostage. (Photo by Jamal Awad/Xinhua)

A man stands on the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on March 21, 2024. The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 31,988, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza announced Thursday. (Xinhua)

People are seen among the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on March 21, 2024. The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 31,988, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza announced Thursday. (Xinhua)

People are seen among the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on March 21, 2024. The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 31,988, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza announced Thursday. (Xinhua)

People stand on the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on March 21, 2024. The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 31,988, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza announced Thursday. (Xinhua)

People are seen among the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on March 21, 2024. The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 31,988, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza announced Thursday. (Xinhua)

People are seen among the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on March 21, 2024. The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 31,988, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza announced Thursday. (Xinhua)

People are seen among the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, on March 21, 2024. The death toll from ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 31,988, the Hamas-run Ministry of Health in Gaza announced Thursday. (Xinhua)