CNN —More than 10,000 people have been killed in Gaza since Israel launched its military offensive nearly a month ago, the Hamas-controlled health ministry in the Palestinian enclave said Monday. Ashraf Al Qudra, spokesperson for the ministry, said 10,022 Palestinians in the enclave had been killed by Israeli strikes, including 4,104 children, 2,641 women and 611 elderly people. CNN cannot independently verify the numbers released by the ministry in Gaza, which is sealed off by Israel and mostly sealed by Egypt. The international charity Save the Children said last month that the number of children reported killed in the enclave during Israel’s campaign had surpassed the annual number of children killed in armed conflict globally in each of the past four years. Israel is, however, yet to show any signs of backing down, saying its operations in Gaza are only expanding.

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Persons: Israel, Ashraf Al Qudra, “, Joe Biden Organizations: CNN, United Nations Human Rights, US, UN, United, United Nations Office, Humanitarian Affairs Locations: Gaza, Israel, Hamas, Egypt, United States, Gaza . Washington, Iran