The number of Palestinians killed since the beginning of the Gaza war over a year ago has risen to 42,010, according to figures released by the Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza on Wednesday.

A further 97,720 Palestinians have been injured since October 7, 2023, the ministry said.

The figures do not distinguish between civilians and fighters and cannot be independently verified, but international organisations such as the United Nations consider them to be largely credible.

The recent advances in the north were reportedly primarily directed at the Shejaiya district in Gaza City and the refugee settlements of Jabalia and Nuseirat.

Palestinian rescue workers described the attacks as extremely intense, saying that in most cases they could not reach the injured due to the heavy fighting.

Hospital doctors said that nine members of one family were killed in a single Israeli airstrike on a residential building.

The information could not be independently confirmed and the Israeli military has not yet commented on the incident. (dpa/NAN)