Hamas reports 241 deaths in Gaza inside 24 hours

Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry has said at least 241 people were killed in the past 24 hours, as Israel's military operation continues in the territory.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has called the war a "grave crime" against his people, reports BBC today.

Israel's army chief Herzi Halevi said the conflict with Hamas would continue for "many more months".

Israel says it hit more than 100 sites on Tuesday, amid reports of impending ground operations in central Gaza.

Loud explosions could be heard from the Gaza Strip across the perimeter with Israel in the early hours of Wednesday.

Gaza's health ministry said 382 people had also been injured over the same 24 hours.

According to the ministry, at least 20,915 Palestinians have been killed - mostly children and women - in more than 11 weeks of fighting.

The claims by the warring sides have not been independently verified.

The war began on 7 October after Hamas led a wave of deadly attacks on communities inside Israel. Some 1,200 people, mainly civilians, were killed. About 240 people were taken back to Gaza as hostages, and a number of them were later released._Agencies.