Gaza death toll nears 40,900 as Israel kills 17 more Palestinians

The Israeli army killed 17 more Palestinians in attacks in the Gaza Strip, bringing the total death toll since last Oct. 7 to 40,878, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Thursday.

A ministry statement added that some 94,454 others have been injured in the ongoing assault.

"Israeli forces killed 17 people and injured 56 others in two 'massacres' of families in the last 24 hours," the ministry said.

"Many people are still trapped under the rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them," it added.

Flouting a UN Security Council resolution demanding an immediate cease-fire, Israel has faced international condemnation amid its continued brutal offensive on Gaza since an Oct. 7, 2023 attack by Palestinian group Hamas.

Almost 11 months into the Israeli war, vast tracts of Gaza lie in ruins amid a crippling blockade of food, clean water, and medicine.

Israel faces accusations of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which has ordered a halt to military operations in the southern city of Rafah, where over one million Palestinians had sought refuge before the area was invaded on May 6.