Gaza/IBNS: The death toll from Israeli strikes on the Gaza Strip has exceeded 8,500 and over 21,000 people have been injured, the Palestinian Health Ministry said on Tuesday.

Last week, the Al-Arabiya broadcaster reported, citing the enclave's Health Ministry, that the death toll topped 7,000 and over 18,000 were injured.

"The death toll due to Israeli aggression has risen to 8,525, including 3,542 children and 2,187 women, and 21,543 people sustained injuries of varying degrees," the ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the UN earlier in the day said that Gaza has become a “graveyard” for children with thousands now killed under Israeli bombardment, while more than a million face dire shortages of essentials and a lifetime of trauma ahead.

UN relief chief Martin Griffiths, who has been visiting Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, spoke to families in Gaza over the phone from east Jerusalem on Tuesday and said that what they have endured since the start of Israel’s retaliation for Hamas’ deadly 7 October attacks is “beyond devastating”.

[With UNI inputs]