Death toll rises to 38,153, four Palestinian prisoners “executed” upon release by Israeli troops

The Palestinian Health Ministry said on Sunday that at least 38,153 Palestinians have been killed by Israel in Gaza since October 7 and more than 87,828 have been injured in the besieged enclave. 15,983 of them are children.

In the last 24 hours, Israeli forces carried out three massacres of families in the Gaza Strip. According to medical sources, at least 55 Palestinians were killed and 123 others injured.

Meanwhile, the Palestinian Prisoners’ Society accused Israeli forces of killing the four men as they were being released at the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) border crossing from Israel to Gaza. The human rights group described the incident as a “field execution,” adding that the four Palestinians were helping to guard humanitarian aid entering the besieged coastal enclave.

“The body of one of the men was recovered yesterday and that of the other this morning. The photos taken show that their hands were tied and that there were signs of torture on their bodies,” the organization said.

The Israeli military has arrested more than 9,700 Palestinians since October 7, the prisoners’ group said. 3,800 of them are being held in “administrative detention” without charge or trial.

According to the latest figures, 520 bodies have been recovered from seven mass graves near hospitals in the Gaza Strip. 500 medical personnel have been killed in this genocidal war that the United States and other Western allies are supplying with weapons.

Ceasefire talks are moving forward, while Hamas said it was waiting for Israel’s response to a ceasefire proposal. The three-phase plan was put forward by US President Joe Biden and aims to end the war and release around 120 Israeli prisoners held in Gaza.