Palestinian death toll in Israeli attacks surpasses 21,000

The number of Palestinian deaths due to Israel's attacks on the Gaza Strip surpassed 21,000, the Gaza-based Health Ministry said on Wednesday, reported Xinhua.

Ashraf al-Qidra, the spokesperson of the ministry, said during a press conference that the casualties from the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip have now risen to 21,110 deaths and 55,243 injuries.

He added that 195 people were killed while 325 were injured and transported to hospitals within the past 24 hours due to Israeli attacks.

Al-Qidra warned against the deliberate targeting by the Israeli army of the vicinity surrounding the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, urging international institutions to take effective and immediate steps to ensure the protection of the complex, its staff, the wounded, and the thousands of displaced people within it.

Meanwhile, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammed Shtayyeh announced on Wednesday the cancellation of all New Year celebrations due to Israel's continuous military operation on the Gaza Strip.

Shtayyeh said the Palestinian government in Ramallah decided during a weekly meeting "to cancel all New Year's Eve celebrations, and there will be marches of anger against the occupation's crimes."