The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has risen to 974 as the Israeli army struck hundreds of targets in the densely-populated strip’s residential and commercial neighborhoods, the Health Ministry said on Wednesday.
A ministry statement said the Israeli attacks also injured 5,000 people.
The situation escalated in the Gaza Strip following a multipronged surprise attack on Israel by Palestinian group Hamas. It said the offensive was in response to the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in recent days, and increased settler violence.
Israel retaliated with airstrikes on Gaza, and said it would cut off electricity, food, water and other supplies to the enclave, which is home to nearly 2.2 million people, and has already been reeling under a crippling blockade since 2007.
The Israeli death toll has climbed to 1,200 people.
