GAZA CITY, Palestine

Israeli airstrikes on the besieged Gaza Strip have destroyed five more mosques, bringing the total number to 31 since Oct. 7, the Gaza-based Endowments and Religious Affairs Ministry said.

"The number of mosques completely destroyed since the beginning of Israel's attacks on Gaza has increased to 31," the ministry said in a statement on Sunday.


On Saturday, it also highlighted the Israeli bombardment of several civilian sites such as the ministry's headquarters, the ministry's Quran radio station, and a church.


It said that 10 employees from the ministry lost their lives in these attacks, and others had been injured.

Israeli strikes on Gaza have also caused significant damage to three churches, the government media office in the Gaza Strip said on Sunday.

At least three churches suffered "serious" harm in these attacks, while half of all dwellings in the Gaza Strip have been either partially or entirely damaged in the past two weeks of strikes.

The conflict in Gaza, under Israeli bombardment and blockade since Oct. 7, began when Hamas initiated Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, a multi-pronged surprise attack that included a barrage of rocket launches and infiltrations into Israel by land, sea, and air. It said the incursion was in retaliation for the storming of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and growing violence by Israeli settlers.

The Israeli military then launched Operation Swords of Iron against Hamas targets in the Gaza Strip.

At least 4,651 Palestinians, including 1,873 children, have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza, while the figure stands at more than 1,400 people in Israel.