Gaza death toll exceeds 31,000

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip from the ongoing Israeli attacks exceeded 31,000, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Sunday.

According to the statement, during the past 24 hours, the Israeli army killed 85 Palestinians and wounded 130 others in various areas in the coastal enclave, bringing the total death toll to 31,045 and injuries to 72,654, reports Chinese news agency Xinhua.

The statement noted that some victims remain under the rubble amid heavy bombardment and a lack of civil defense and ambulance crews.

Israel has been launching a large-scale offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip to retaliate against the group's rampage through the southern Israeli border on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and more than 240 were taken hostage.