"The death toll from Israeli operations in the Gaza Strip since October 7 has risen to 23,843, and 60,317 others have been injured," a spokesperson for the ministry told a press briefing broadcast by Al Jazeera.
As many as 135 people of this number were killed in 12 Israeli airstrikes against civilian infrastructure in the past 24 hours, the representative added.
"One in twenty Palestinians is already dead, wounded or missing," the spokesperson said at the press briefing.
On October 7, 2023, Palestinian movement Hamas launched a large-scale rocket attack against Israel from the Gaza Strip, while its fighters breached the border, opening fire on the military and civilians. As a result, over 1,200 people in Israel were killed and some 240 others abducted. Israel launched retaliatory strikes, ordered a complete blockade of Gaza and launched a ground incursion into the Palestinian enclave with the declared goal of eliminating Hamas fighters and rescuing the hostages.
On November 24, Qatar mediated a deal between Israel and Hamas on a temporary truce and the exchange of some of the prisoners and hostages, as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip. The ceasefire was extended several times and expired on December 1.