Ministry said Sunday, bringing the Palestinian death toll from the 18 month old Israel-Hamas war to 52 thousand 243.

Israel ended its ceasefire with Hamas by launching a surprise bombardment on March 18 and has been carrying out daily waves of strikes since then. 

Ground forces have expanded a buffer zone and encircled the southern city of Rafah, and now control around 50% of the territory. 

Israel has also sealed off the territory’s 2 million Palestinians from all imports, including food and medicine, for nearly 60 days. 

Aid groups say supplies will soon run out and that thousands of children are malnourished.