Gaza death toll hits 500

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 18:07:21 GMT

At least 500 people including 87 children have been killed since the Israeli “Operation Cast Lead” was launched against the Gaza Strip.

“The number of martyrs has reached at least 500, including 87 children, and more than 2,450 have been wounded,” Moawiya Hassanein, the head of Gaza medical emergency services, told AFP Sunday.

Independent sources however put the death toll at 507 and the number of injured at 2,790. The casualties are expected to rise drastically as the Israeli ground forces move deeper into the densely-populated area.

“The number of the dead can be much higher, since there are many martyrs and wounded in the streets, but we have not been able to get to them,” Hassanein added.

Despite the high civilian casualties, Tel Aviv has repeatedly snubbed international calls for a ceasefire in the costal sliver, vowing to continue the offensive on the region.

SB/MMN