Number of casualties from Israeli shelling in Gaza reaches 43

At least 43 people, including 13 children, have died and another 296 have been injured as a result of Israeli shelling in the Gaza Strip, which has been ongoing since the evening of May 10. This was reported by the health ministry of the coastal enclave on May 12.

“A total of 43 people have been killed, including 13 children and three women, and another 296 have sustained injuries of varying degrees of severity due to the Israeli bombardments,” quotes Dunya Al Watan radio the ministry's statement.

According to the radio, residential homes and the locations of leaders of the Hamas militant group, which controls the Gaza Strip, are frequently targeted by Israeli military strikes. Earlier reports indicated that five people were killed in the Gaza Strip during the night of May 12 as a result of an Israeli air force strike on a civilian vehicle. In addition, a substantial number of civilian infrastructure objects have been severely damaged.

The strikes on the coastal enclave have been a response to rocket fire from Palestinian militants. Hamas's military wing, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, announced the launch of more than 200 rockets toward Tel Aviv and Beersheba on the evening of May 11 and the morning of May 12. Reports indicate that five Israelis have been killed, as reported by TASS.