Toll of martyred Palestinians reaches 9,227 as Israeli aggression continues in Gaza

GAZA, Palestine (AFP) - The Health Ministry in the Hamas-run Gaza Strip said Friday the martyrs' toll since the start of Israel's war against the Palestinian militant group in the territory reached 9,227.

The ministry said 3,826 children and 2,405 women were among the martyrs. Israeli ground troops fighting to destroy Hamas had surrounded Gaza City as top US diplomat Antony Blinken arrived in Israel for a trip focused on "concrete steps" to minimise Palestinian civilian casualties.

And in Geneva, the United Nations launched an emergency aid appeal seeking $1.2 billion to help some 2.7 million people facing a humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the West Bank. New Israeli strikes rocked the Gaza Strip on Friday morning, an AFP correspondent said, and the Gaza health ministry reported at least 15 deaths in Gaza City's Zeitun neighbourhood and seven in Jabalia refugee camp.

The Hamas government has said 195 people were martyred in Israeli bombardments on Jabalia earlier this week, with hundreds more missing and wounded, figures AFP could not independently verify.

Before his departure, Blinken said he would seek to ensure that harm to Palestinian civilians is reduced, in a visible shift of tone for the United States which has promised full support and ramped-up military aid to Israel. "We will be talking about concrete steps that can and should be taken to minimise harm to men, women and children in Gaza," Blinken said. "This is something that the United States is committed to."

'Curse of history'

But yet more mayhem seems to lie ahead, as the conflict turns to urban and underground warfare -- with Hamas fighting from a tunnel complex believed to span hundreds of kilometres (miles). The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, insisted Israeli soldiers would go home "in black bags".

"Gaza will be the curse of history for Israel," spokesman Abu Obeida said. Israel's allies have backed its right to self-defence, but there is growing global concern and anger at how Israel has chosen to prosecute the war.

A group of UN-mandated human rights experts -- who do not speak for the United Nations -- warned Thursday that "time is running out to prevent genocide and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza". Countries around the world recalled their ambassadors from Israel in protest at the strikes. Bolivia severed diplomatic ties.