Special report: Israel launches Gaza assault

A Palestinian man covered in blood reacts as a body is wheeled into al-Shifa hospital following an Israeli raid in Gaza. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

    GAZA, July 26 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from Israeli air and ground operations in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday rose to 23, Palestinian medics said.

    A Palestinian woman, identified as 40-year-old Amal Oukal who had been seriously wounded by an Israeli tank shell in northern Gaza earlier in the day, died of her wounds on Wednesday night, bringing to 23 the Palestinian death toll in Gaza on Wednesday, said medics.

    Her two daughters-- two-year-old Shaf Oukal and nine-year-old Mary Oukal-- were also killed in the Israeli attack.

    Amal's two other daughters-- 12-year-old Ibtisam and seven-year-old Sommaya, were injured.

    So far, 23 people were killed across Gaza on Wednesday, including 10 militants, nine civilians and four children, according to Mouaweya Hassanein, a Palestinian Health Ministry official.

    Earlier in the day, 20 Palestinians were killed and more than 50 others wounded when dozens of Israeli tanks and armored vehicles, backed by aircraft and unmanned drones, stormed northeast of Gaza City.

    About 160 Palestinians have been killed and more than 500 wounded since the beginning of the massive Israeli offensive in the Gaza Strip on June 28 in a bid to free a captive soldier and stop Palestinian rocket attacks. Enditem