According to a report from that medical institution, such figures increased after 117 deaths and 152 wounded were reported in the last 24 hours.

The Ministry of Health also noted that scores of victims are still buried under rubble in several places in the Gaza Strip, as Israeli aggressors are preventing ambulances and rescue workers from reaching those places.

Humanitarian organizations have expressed their concern over the start of an offensive by Israeli forces in the southern Gaza city of Rafah on Friday, where some 28 people were killed in the bombing, according to Palestinian authorities.

Concerns heightened by the military onslaught as Rafah is home to more than 1.3 million Palestinians displaced by the invading forces.

Local media reported that Israeli artillery also bombed the Taiba school, which houses displaced people in Khan Younis.

Meanwhile, warships fired shells at the Deir al-Balah beach in the center of the enclave.

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