Gaza death toll nears 25000

Gaza health authorities report the death toll in the Strip has risen to nearly 25,000.

This comes as the Israeli military says its ground troops are expanding their offensive in southern Gaza.

The Israeli military said on Thursday that one of its brigades in Khan Younis “is now fighting in the southernmost area” that its “ground troops have operated in so far.” It added that the soldiers have killed dozens of Hamas fighters. There are many evacuees in that region.

The military says Hamas has been militarizing the city’s Nasser Hospital.

A senior Doctors Without Borders staff member said the situation at the hospital is “catastrophic.” The international NGO, which is helping the hospital, says there are too many patients for the staff members to handle because the fighting is taking place nearby.

Health authorities in Gaza said on Thursday that Israeli attacks had killed 172 people over the past 24 hours. They added that the death toll has reached 24,620.

(With inputs from agencies)