GAZA CITY, Palestine

A recent Israeli air offensive on the Gaza Strip has left 2,516 Palestinians homeless, according to local authorities on Wednesday.

In a statement, the Ministry of Social Development in Gaza said 180 children were among those who lost their residence.
The ministry appealed to Arab, Islamic and international organizations to provide aid to families affected by the Israeli onslaught on Gaza.

Israel mounted five days of airstrikes on Gaza last week during which at least 33 Palestinians were killed and dozens injured, according to the Health Ministry. Palestinian groups retaliated with rocket fire into Israel, which killed at least two Israelis.

The Israeli army said its offensive was in response to rocket fire from the Palestinian territory following the death of a Palestinian hunger striker in an Israeli prison earlier this month.

The violence came to a halt on May 13 under an Egyptian-brokered cease-fire.

On Sunday, the Hamas-run Government Media Office said that 2,041 housing units were damaged in the Israeli offensive on Gaza.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar