The number of children born with birth defects is still on the rise since the "Israeli operation" Cast Lead on the Gaza Strip, the Hamas Health Ministry has declared.

"We have found cases among newborn babies involving heart defects and brain abnormalities." Haaretz quoted Dr. Muweiyah Hassenein, who heads the ministry's ambulance and emergency services department.

Hassenein has said in a report that the higher number of birth defects is a result of "Israel's" use of internationally prohibited weapons against the civilians of Gaza."

According to the report published in the Ma'an news agency, "Israel used the Dense Inert Metal Explosive (DIME) as well, which could cause biological effects on fetuses."

More than 1,500 Palestinians, mostly women and children, were killed during three weeks of the "Israeli" offensive against the impoverished coastal sliver.