Gaza death toll surpasses that of Cast Lead as count hits 1,437

GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- The Palestinian death toll in the ongoing Israeli assault on Gaza surpassed that of Operation Cast Lead on Thursday as the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli attacks hit 1,437.

In the most recent lethal Israeli attack, an airstrike hit the al-Bayoumi family home in al-Nusairat refugee camp, killing at least 11 Palestinians and injuring at least 45.

According to the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, 1,417 Palestinians were killed during Israel's infamous three-week offensive on Gaza in 2008-2009.

Some 5,303 people were injured during Cast Lead, while at least 8,265 have been injured throughout Operation Protective Edge, Israel's name for its current offensive.

At the end of the 2009 war, ten Israeli soldiers had been killed. Militants in Gaza have done more damage this time, with 56 soldiers killed so far.

The current offensive is still ongoing on its 24th day, while Cast Lead ended after 22 days.

Gaza militants and Israel also fought a war with Israel in late 2012, which lasted a week and left 174 Palestinians dead.

The current offensive showed no signs of stopping on Thursday, as the US restocked Israel's ammunition and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that he would accept no ceasefire that did not allow Israeli troops to remain in Gaza and destroy tunnels.

Militants in Gaza, meanwhile, say they will not stop fighting until the eight-year Israeli-imposed economic blockade on the Strip comes to an end. more

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