70 more killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza

At least 70 Palestinians were killed in the past 24 hours as Israeli air and ground strikes continue across the Gaza Strip, according to the territory’s health ministry.

Among the dead, 26 were civilians attempting to collect humanitarian aid when Israeli forces opened fire, the ministry said on Saturday (August 16). An additional 385 people were injured in the latest attacks, reports Al Jazeera.

The death toll from Israel’s military offensive, which began in October 2023, has now reached 61,897, with 155,660 wounded.

The humanitarian crisis deepened further as 11 more Palestinians, including a child, died from starvation and malnutrition in the last day, raising the famine-related death toll to 251. Of those, 108 were children.

Gaza health authorities report that since Israel resumed its assault on March 18—breaking a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement—10,362 people have been killed and 43,619 injured.

Israeli forces have increasingly targeted civilians attempting to access humanitarian aid. Since May 27, 1,924 Palestinians have been killed and 14,288 injured while trying to collect relief supplies.

The continued escalation comes amid ongoing international legal proceedings. In November 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Galant over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces genocide charges at the International Court of Justice.

There has been no immediate response from the Israeli military regarding the latest casualties.