The death-toll from Israel’s assault on the Gaza Strip has risen to 493 Palestinians, the Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced Monday morning.
The number of injured has also reached 2,751 as of Monday morning, the ministry added, amid intense Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip in response to the “Al-Aqsa storm” operation launched by Palestinian factions on Saturday morning against Israel.
Hospitals in Gaza are suffering from a lack of medical equipment and medicine.
Worse still, Gaza faces a power outage from Israeli authorities that has forced its hospitals to rely on fuel-powered electrical generators – and the fuel is running out.
“If we are not supplied with medical tools, medicines, and the necessary materials within hours, we will be facing a very critical situation,” the Director General of Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza said in television statements.
Escalation into war
The Israeli military on Saturday declared that Israel was in a ‘state of war’ after Hamas militants fired rockets and sent forces into Israeli territory.
“If you have a gun, get it out. This is the time to use it – get out with trucks, cars, axes, today the best and most honorable history starts,” Hamas military commander Muhammad Al-Deif said in a recorded message as reported by CNN.
The “Al-Aqsa Storm” operation was a series of coordinated attacks launched by Palestinian factions in the Gaza Strip and Israel on Saturday.
The Izzedine al Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, announced on Sunday morning the killing of the commander of the communications battalion in the Israeli army – amid the escalation of clashes taking place since Saturday.
The Palestinian group also reported that artillery units are supporting its fighters with rockets in Ofakim, Sderot, Yad Mordechai, and more.
