The Palestinian Ministry of Health said early on Tuesday that there have now been 704 Palestinian deaths at the hands of Israeli forces in Gaza, , reported by Al-Jazeera

According to the government, there were 105 women and 143 children among the fatalities.

It stated that there are now about 4,000 wounded people.

Israel continues bombardment of the Gaza Strip overnight, hitting residential buildings. The bombing came after Israel announced a “total blockade” on Gaza, including a ban on admitting food and fuel.

Such a siege by the Israeli army, with the intent to starve a population, is a war crime under United Nations statutes.

The latest death toll stands at 704 Palestinians in Gaza and more than 900 people in Israel. Hamas’s surprise attack on Saturday came after Israeli settlers stormed the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in recent days and a record number of Palestinians were killed by Israel in recent months.