Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza rises to 39,929: ministry

The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip has risen to 39,929, the health authorities in the besieged enclave said on Tuesday.

A total of 92,240 people had been wounded in Gaza since the latest round of Palestinian-Israeli conflict broke out last October, the health authorities said in a statement.

The statement said that in the past 48 hours, Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip resulted in 32 deaths and 88 injuries.

Since the conflict broke out on Oct 7 last year, more than 16,000 children and over 11,000 women in Gaza have been killed, the Hamas-run Gaza government media office said on Monday.

The media office reported that 69 percent of the wounded in Gaza are women and children, and a total of 17,000 children in the region have lost at least one parent.

It added that 885 medical workers have been killed in the latest round of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, 34 hospitals have stopped treating patients, and 80 medical centers have been forced to close.

The exchange of fire between the two sides continues.

Five people were killed in Israeli attacks on Deir al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip and seven more were killed after Israel bombed a house in the Al-Bureij refugee camp, also in the central Gaza Strip, on Tuesday, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.

At least 10 Palestinians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on the eastern part of the city of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza on Monday, according to a Palestinian news agency.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released a statement Monday claiming they had confirmed the death of 31 Palestinian armed militants in a bombing of a school in Gaza City in the early hours of Saturday.

Also on Monday, the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) released a video showing their militants attacking Israeli targets and soldiers.

Israeli Government Spokesperson David Mencer on Monday said that according to the proposal of the United States and other mediators, Israel will send a delegation to participate in ceasefire talks on August 15. He said the talks aimed to finalize the framework of a ceasefire agreement and the implementation details. Israel hopes that the detainees will be released and other goals of the war will be achieved.

Hamas released a statement on Sunday claiming that it has always hoped for the success of the efforts by Egyptian and Qatari mediators since the latest round of conflict began. To this end, Hamas has participated in several rounds of talks and responded to the proposal for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of Israeli detainees in early July. However, Israel subsequently introduced new conditions that had not been previously discussed, continued its attacks on the Gaza Strip, and targeted Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, the statement said, confirming Israel's intention to continue the war and its unwillingness to reach a ceasefire agreement. Even after calls from Qatari, Egyptian, and American leaders for Israel and Hamas to resume talks on the 15th, Israeli troops bombed a school in Gaza on Saturday, killing more than 100 people. Hamas has called on the mediators to submit an implementation plan and compel Israel to adhere to it based on relevant UN Security Council resolutions and previous consultation outcomes, rather than conducting further negotiations or presenting new proposals that might serve as cover for Israeli attacks.

On Thursday night, the leaders of the US, Egypt, and Qatar called on Israel and Hamas to resume negotiations in Doha, Qatar, or Cairo, Egypt, on the 15th, in order to resolve all remaining differences and begin implementing the agreement.

Israel has been waging a large-scale offensive against Hamas in Gaza to retaliate against a Hamas attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, during which about 1,200 people were killed and about 250 taken hostage.

Palestinian death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza rises to 39,929: ministry

Many vibrant activities were held across China on Tuesday to celebrate the 40th Teachers' Day, which falls on Sept. 10, honoring the contributions of teachers to students' personal development and their role in shaping the overall education system.

In Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province, landmark buildings were lit up at night with warm wishes, expressing sincere gratitude to teachers.

A school in Bishan District of southwest China's Chongqing Municipality held a special ceremony to welcome new teachers, who vowed to abide by the instructors' code and ethics during an oath-taking session.

In Nanchang, capital city of east China's Jiangxi Province, outstanding teachers were commended for their efforts in fostering student development and improving their academic skills.

Students in Lanzhou, capital city of northwest China's Gansu Province, showed their gratitude to the teachers' hard work with various forms of performances, including a live drama on stage.

Meanwhile, Majiang County in southwest China's Guizhou Province kicked off an art festival featuring music and dance performances to mark the special day.

In interviews with China Global Television Network (CGTN), people from various professions recalled their fondest school memories, sharing the important roles teachers played in shaping their lives.

"When I was in the second year of high school, my grades dropped. My Chinese teacher encouraged me, saying that 'Even if you're not one of the best, you're still unique.' I've remembered his words till this day," said Yu Kangna who works as a nurse at a hospital in Deqing County of Zhejiang.

"I've always been poor at math, but my math teacher didn't give up on me. He offered me and others extra tutoring and told us to believe in myself. He told us that girls don't necessarily perform poorly in math and we can be as good as boys," said Yue Ziyi, a student at Jimei University in east China's Xiamen.

Others expressed gratitude to their teachers for nurturing them and acting as guardians.

"My most memorable teacher is my head teacher in high school. He treated every student with loads of patience. He believes every one of us is capable of learning," said Wang Chaobo, a worker at the gas production branch of the Daqing Oilfield, one of China's largest oil production bases in the northeastern Heilongjiang Province.

"To Teacher Li, thanks you. Thank you for protecting me when I was young and for making me feel that I was no different from other students. I wish you good health," said Qu Zimo, a badminton player and also a member of the Chinese delegation for the Paris Paralympics.

Over the past decades, China has built the world's largest high-standard education system, covering pre-school, compulsory, senior high, higher education, adult education, and special education.

The country now boasts nearly 19 million full-time teachers, double the number in 1985 when the first Teachers' Day was celebrated.

China celebrates 40th Teachers' Day with vibrant activities