Gaza death toll passes 34,000 as Israel and Iran missile strikes grab global attention, Ednews reports via The Guardian.

Grim milestone comes as G7 leaders urge Netanyahu not to press ahead with Rafah invasionThe death toll from Israel’s war on Gaza climbed to more than 34,000 on Saturday, with the majority of victims women and children, including at least six killed by an overnight airstrike on a house in Rafah.

The latest grim milestone comes as hope of a ceasefire has dimmed, and global attention has shifted to the dangerous exchange of missile and drone strikes between Iran and Israel.

Nearly 77,000 people have also been wounded, according to health authorities under the Hamas-run Gaza government. The figures exclude tens of thousands of dead who are believed to be buried in the bombed-out ruins of homes, shops, shelters and other buildings.

The figures do not differentiate between civilians and Hamas fighters; Israel’s military says it has killed more than 13,000 militants.

With talks in effect on hold, Israel has signalled it plans to push ahead with a ground operation in southern Rafah, the only part of Gaza where it has not sent in troops. Air strikes have continued there, and one on Friday night hit a home in western Tel al-Sultan neighbourhood, killing nine people.