Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 58,667

The Palestinian death toll in the Gaza Strip has risen to 58,667, with 139,974 injured since the conflict between Hamas and Israel erupted in 2023, Gaza's health authorities said in a statement on Thursday.

In the past 24 hours, Israeli attacks on the enclave claimed 94 lives, including 26 aid seekers, and injured 367 others, according to the statement.

Two people were killed and seven others injured in an Israeli drone strike on the Holy Family church housing displaced persons east of Gaza City, Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defense in Gaza, told China's Xinhua News Agency, adding that Parish Priest of the church Father Gabriel Romanelli is among the injured.

According to local sources, the Israeli airstrike, which came shortly after members of the community performed a prayer inside the church for peace, caused significant damage to the church housing about 600 people, including those with special needs.

The Israeli military said Thursday in a statement that it is aware of reports on the incident, the circumstances of which "are under review."

Meanwhile, eight people were killed in an Israeli attack on aid workers in the Sudaniya area, northwest of Gaza City, and six others were killed in Israeli shelling of two residential apartments and a gathering of Palestinians in several neighborhoods of Gaza City, Basal said.

A Palestinian family of seven were killed in the bombing of their home in the Jabalia area, northern Gaza, Basal said.

In central Gaza, four Palestinians were killed in Israeli artillery shelling of a gathering of people east of the Nuseirat refugee camp, and five others were killed in the bombing of a displaced persons' tent inside the Abu Helu school in the adjacent Bureij camp, he said.

A girl was killed and several others injured in an Israeli drone strike on displaced persons' tents northwest of Khan Younis city, southern Gaza, Nasser Medical Complex in the city reported. A young man was killed in an airstrike on the al-Mawasi area.

According to Palestinian security sources, Israeli artillery shelled the northern, eastern, and southern outskirts of Gaza City, amidst helicopter gunfire. The army also blew up residential buildings in the cities of Rafah and Khan Younis.

Also on Thursday, the Israeli military said in a statement that it has intercepted two rockets fired from northern Gaza towards southern Israel.

No injuries or damage have been reported in the incident.

Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 58,667

Protesters filled Mexico City's Paseo de la Reforma on Saturday, rallying in solidarity with Venezuela and denouncing U.S. influence in Latin America.

The United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela in the early hours of Jan 3, taking by force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Holding numerous flags and banners while chanting slogans intermittently, a huge crowd of protesters criticized U.S. military actions against Venezuela and the unlawful control over President Maduro and his spouse, calling for respect for national sovereignty and regional peace.

"We oppose the U.S. intervention and hegemony towards the countries in Latin America. The United States has flagrantly trampled on international law, bombed Caracas and kidnapped the Maduro couple. The U.S. interventionism has become extremely blatant. We must firmly oppose and be highly vigilant, because this is not only related to a certain country, but also to all countries," said a protester.

"We demand that the United States stop interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs. The country must immediately cease its exploitation and plundering of the countries in Latin America," said another protester.

Protest erupts in Mexico City over US military operation in Venezuela