Over 4,100 Palestinians killed, 13,000 injured in Israeli strikes

• At least 16 Palestinian Christians were among those killed in direct Israeli attacks on a Greek Orthodox church Thursday evening in Gaza City

The death toll in Gaza due to Israel’s ongoing bombardment has climbed to 4,137 since October 7, 2023.

The Palestinian health ministry disclosed this on Friday.

The number of injured has risen to 13,300, ministry spokesman Ashraf Qudra told a news conference.

Qudra added that over 1,000 others are missing.

He also stated that at least 16 Palestinian Christians were among those killed in direct Israeli attacks on a Greek Orthodox church Thursday evening in Gaza City.

“Seven hospitals in the Gaza strip are completely out of service due to Israeli attacks,” said Qudra as quoted by a Turkish news medium, Anadolu Ajansi.

The conflict in Gaza, under Israeli bombardment and blockade since Oct. 7, began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip, along with stepping up raids and arrests in the occupied West Bank.

Officials have said more than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed in the conflict.

Meanwhile, Hamas on Friday released two American hostages — a mother and daughter — who were being held in Gaza. The Israeli military received them at the border and took them to an army base in central Israel to be reunited with family members, according to statements released by Hamas and the Israel government.

The release of the hostages came on the same day the Biden administration formally asked Congress for billions of dollars in emergency funding for Israel and Gaza.

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken said that a team from the U.S. embassy in Israel will soon meet with two American hostages, a mother and daughter from the Chicago area who were captured in Israel by Hamas on Oct. 7 and released on Friday. There are still 10 American hostages being held along with about 200 others “from many nations,” he said. “Every single one of them should be released.”