The number of Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes in the Gaza Strip has risen to 6,547, according to the Hamas-controlled Gaza health authority.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) , further reported on Thursday morning that 68 per cent of the fatalities were children and women.
It cited figures from the Hamas-controlled agency.
Around 1,600 people in Gaza had been considered missing.
These figures cannot be independently verified.
Israel’s army said it is preparing a ground offensive in Gaza.
Terrorists acting on behalf of Hamas, which controls the Gaza Strip, massacred civilians in Israel on Oct. 7.
More than 1,400 people were killed when armed Hamas militants staged cross-border attacks.
According to Israel’s army, at least 222 other people were forcibly taken into the Gaza Strip.
Four hostages have been released.
Hamas says it will not release more hostages until Israel allows fuel and medicine to be delivered to the Gaza Strip. (dpa/NAN)