GAZA/RAMALLAH - Gaza's Civil Defense said Tuesday that its teams recovered 20 bodies from the area of the Sheikh Radwan Clinic in Gaza City.
It said in a press statement that the bodies were found buried randomly within the clinic's perimeter, and most of them are unidentified. The statement added that search operations are continuing for others reported missing in the area.
In its daily report on Tuesday, Gaza's health authorities said hospitals in the enclave received three bodies and several wounded in the past 24 hours.
According to the authorities, 245 people have been killed and 623 others injured since the ceasefire came into effect on Oct 10, while rescue teams have recovered 529 bodies from various parts of the enclave.
The total death toll from the Gaza conflict since Oct 7, 2023, has risen to 69,182, with 170,694 others injured, the authorities added.
Anniversary of Arafat's death
Also on Tuesday, Palestinians in the West Bank gathered to mark the 21st anniversary of the death of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.
A memorial ceremony was held in the morning at Arafat's tomb in the Palestinian Presidential Compound in Ramallah, central West Bank, as top officials including Palestinian Vice-President Hussein al-Sheikh and Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa laid wreaths there.
Arafat passed away on Nov 11, 2004, at the age of 75 in a hospital in France due to an unknown illness. Palestinians accused Israel of poisoning him, a claim that Israel denies.
On the streets of Ramallah, hundreds of Palestinians participated in a march, some carrying pictures of Arafat and waving Palestinian flags.
Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) Wasel Abu Youssef said in a speech that "Arafat embodied the unity of the Palestinian people within the framework of the PLO and the launch of the contemporary Palestinian revolution," according to the Palestinian official news agency WAFA.
During the speech, Abu Youssef "warned against attempts to break the will of the Palestinian people and the efforts to separate the Gaza Strip," WAFA reported.
Events to commemorate the anniversary were also held in other major West Bank cities including Salfit, Bethlehem and Tulkarm, with participation of local officials and the public.
