1,055 Palestinians in Gaza killed by Israel since launch of new war: health ministry

At least 1,055 Palestinians, including women and children, have been killed by Israeli army airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, said the Palestinian health ministry based in the besieged coastal enclave. The number of injured has also risen to 5,184. 

"We are witnessing a catastrophic situation as the Israeli occupation deliberately attacks our medical staff while they are trying to save civilians and transfer the wounded and killed," the ministry added in its statement. 

"The catastrophic situation creates a humanitarian crisis for all residents of Gaza, which is exacerbated by the occupation's continued aggression and destruction of entire residential neighbourhoods with hundreds of tons of explosives and the bombing of citizens' homes over their heads," it stressed. 

The health ministry concluded by calling on international institutions and countries to take effective steps "to protect medical personnel, health institutions and ambulances." 

Israel has been escalating its violence with intensified bombing  as its fighter jets struck more than 200 targets in Gaza city overnight after a surprise attack by Hamas occurred over the weekend.