By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The health ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said Monday the death toll from Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian territory had surpassed 10,000, nearly one month after the start of the war.
The toll of 10,022 deaths was announced in a press conference in Gaza by health ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qidreh.
He said at least 292 Palestinians were killed overnight from Sunday into Monday in intense bombardments by the Israeli army which he accused of “perpetrating 19 massacres in the last hours”.
According to the Hamas-run health ministry, the majority of those killed in Gaza since the start of the war have been civilians, including more than 4,000 children.
The war in Gaza was triggered by the October 7 Hamas attacks, which killed 1,400 in southern Israel, mostly civilians, according to Israeli officials.
Meanwhile the South African government, led by the ruling African National Congress(ANC) which has close ties to Palestine, has called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and for aid to be allowed into the bombarded enclave.
South Africa is among other countries to recall their ambassadors to Israel to protest the military operations in Gaza, including Chile, Colombia, Honduras. Bolivia severed diplomatic ties with the country.
Israel criticized the Latin American countries last week and called on Colombia and Chile to “explicitly condemn the Hamas terrorist organization.”
The South African government also earlier offered to mediate in the conflict, and said the country would engage with UN secretary-general António Guterres and countries in the Middle East, regarding the potential role it could play in terms of mediation and conflict resolution.
Minister in the presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said: “Israel is threatening the stability of the global system, by its conduct against the Palestinian people. And the United States’ support of Israel is enabling Israel to threaten the global system and good governance.”