More than 1537 Palestinians have been killed including more than 500 children and 276 women in the Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip the Palestinian health ministry said in a statement issued late on Thursday.
A further 6612 people have been wounded in the ongoing Israeli air strikes including 1644 children and 1005 women.
Women and children in Gaza constitute approximately 60% of the injuries resulting from ongoing Israeli bombardment of the enclave said the ministry.
Yusuf Abu al-Reesh deputy health minister in Gaza said “60% of the injuries caused by Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip have impacted women and children.”
Deploring the substandard state of medical care in the blockaded Strip he added: “All hospital beds have been exhausted and both medications and medical supplies are on the verge of running out.”
For the sixth consecutive day Israeli warplanes have launched hundreds of air raids on civilian houses and infrastructure in various areas of the Gaza Strip leading to hundreds of casualties and vast destruction.
The strikes have also targeted 14 health institutions including the Ministry of Health building the Rimal Clinic and the International Eye Center and bombed 15 ambulances the ministry said.
The airstrikes have caused the deaths of whole members of 28 families 10 health workers and eight journalists.
The situation is further complicated by fuel shortages and electrical outages affecting generators the ministry added.
&ldquoThere continues to be a lack of electricity to operate the health care system. This threatens the lives of all sick and injured people&rdquo the health ministry added in the statement.
The health ministry also called for the opening of a &ldquosafe corridor to ensure the entry of urgent medical aid&rdquo into the territory’s hospitals which are now overwhelmed with the dead and wounded.
