Israel kills 20 more Gazans as death toll nears 41,300

At least 20 more Palestinians were killed in relentless Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, pushing up the overall death toll since last Oct. 7, to 41,272, the Health Ministry in the enclave said on Wednesday.

A ministry statement added that some 95,551 others have been injured in the ongoing assault.

"Israeli forces killed 20 people and injured 54 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.

The Israeli onslaught has displaced almost the entire population of the territory amid an ongoing blockade that has led to severe shortages of food, clean water and medicine.

Israel faces accusations of genocide for its actions in Gaza at the International Court of Justice.