Palestinian death toll in Gaza Strip rises to 32,623: ministry

Children are seen in front of a damaged building in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on March 29, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 32,623, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Friday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

GAZA, March 29 (Xinhua) -- The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 32,623, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Friday.

The Israeli army killed 71 Palestinians and wounded 112 others during the past 24 hours, it added.

This brings the total death toll to 32,623 and injuries to 75,092 since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out, according to the ministry.

At least 20 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed Friday as Israeli warplanes launched a series of airstrikes in Gaza City, the official news agency WAFA reported.

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

People are seen near a destroyed building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on March 29, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 32,623, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Friday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

Photo taken on March 29, 2024 shows a destroyed building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 32,623, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Friday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

People mourn the death of their relatives in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on March 29, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 32,623, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Friday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

A woman collects items from a destroyed house after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on March 29, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 32,623, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Friday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

A boy walks through the rubble after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on March 29, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 32,623, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Friday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)

People are framed by the structure of a damaged building after an Israeli airstrike in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, on March 29, 2024. The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 32,623, the Hamas-run Health Ministry said in a press statement on Friday. (Photo by Khaled Omar/Xinhua)