Toll from war crosses 46,000 in Gaza Strip

The Gaza health ministry has said the death toll from the Israel-Hamas war has climbed above 46,000.

- Agencies

GAZA STRIP:

The ministry updated its toll from the ongoing 15-month conflict on Thursday. It says 46,006 Palestinians have been killed and 109,378 wounded.

The ministry has said women and children make up more than half the fatalities, but does not say how many of the dead were fighters or civilians.

The Israeli military says it has killed over 17,000 militants, without providing evidence. It says it tries to avoid harming civilians and blames Hamas for their deaths because the militants operate in residential areas. Israel has also repeatedly struck what it says are militants hiding in shelters and hospitals, often killing women and children.