Live updates: Israel in political turmoil as pressure mounts over war in Gaza | CNN

Saturday was Gaza’s deadliest single day since mid-December, with 283 people killed, the Ministry of Health in Gaza reported Sunday. That brings the ministry’s total death toll during the current war in Gaza to 37,084.

Most of those killed Saturday died when the Israel Defense Forces mounted a surprise operation to rescue four Israeli hostages in Nuseirat in central Gaza. 

The raid resulted in 274 Palestinians being killed and 698 injured, the Gaza Ministry of Health said Sunday. The IDF has disputed those numbers, saying it estimated the number of casualties from the operation was “under 100.”

The health ministry does not distinguish between casualties among civilians and Hamas fighters. CNN cannot independently verify the ministry’s casualty figures due to the lack of international media access to Gaza.

Palestinian civilians described “hell on earth” in central Gaza during the Israeli operation, and CNN video showed people rushing bloodied children into packed emergency rooms after the attack.

An additional nine people were killed and 116 injured elsewhere in the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, the health ministry said.

It marked the deadliest day in Gaza since December 10, when nearly 300 people were killed, according to Ministry of Health records.

US response: The United States administration, which aided with intelligence gathering for the operation, acknowledged Sunday that civilians died in the attack.

“Innocent people were tragically killed in this operation,” US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union” Sunday, adding that it is “heartbreaking” and the “exact number we don’t know.” 

In response to Hamas’ claim that other hostages were killed during the mission — which it has not yet provided evidence for — Sullivan said, “We have not seen that verified or confirmed. I believe that the Israelis have said they do not have any information to that effect. But of course, that is always a risk.”