Israeli strikes kill 136 over the past day

Gaza's civil defence agency said Israeli attacks on Monday killed at least 52 people, as the military pressed a newly intensified campaign in the war-ravaged territory.

"The Israeli bombardment on Gaza has continued since midnight and throughout the early morning hours, resulting in 52 martyrs," civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal told AFP, adding that the bombing was ongoing in the afternoon and that Israeli forces had "expanded their ground operation".

The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reported Monday that hospitals have received the bodies of 136 people killed by Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours. An additional 364 people were wounded, according to the ministry’s daily update.

The ministry said these casualties bring the total death toll in Gaza since October 7, 2023, to 53,486, with 121,398 others wounded.

Since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18, at least 3,340 people have been killed and 9,357 wounded, the ministry added.