THE Health Ministry in the Gaza Strip has said a total of 25,490 Palestinians have been killed, with another 63,354 injured in Israeli strikes on the territory since October 7.
The toll includes 195 people killed in the last 24 hours, the ministry added.
Figures from the ministry are deemed as largely accurate by the UN, but do not differentiate between militants and civilians.
Meanwhile, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it has surrounded the southern Gazan city of Khan Younis and that it has killed “fighters” amid heavy fighting in the past 24 hours.
Israel said the city, the second-largest in the territory, is a stronghold of the Khan Younis Brigade of Hamas.
“Over the past day, IDF troops carried out an extensive operation during which they encircled Khan Younis and deepened the operation in the area. The area is a significant stronghold of Hamas’ Khan Younis Brigade,” Israel military said.
“Ground troops engaged in close-quarters combat, directed [air force] strikes, and used intelligence to coordinate fire, resulting in the elimination of dozens of fighters,” it said.
