Death toll in Gaza ‘passes 27,000’

Rubble from buildings destroyed in the Israeli Army’s ground operation in the Gaza Strip (Tsafrir Abayov/AP)

More than 27,000 people have been killed and 66,000 wounded by Israel’s offensive in Gaza, the Hamas-controlled territory’s health ministry said on Thursday.

South Africa’s foreign minister has accused Israel of ignoring last week’s ruling by the United Nations’ top court, which ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent deaths in Gaza.