Death toll in Gaza rises to 60,889 amid Israeli strikes, ‘Famine’ claims 175 lives

Over the past 24 hours, the bodies of 119 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks across Gaza have been brought to various hospitals, according to reports. Among them were 15 victims who had died in earlier attacks but were only recently recovered. An additional 866 people were injured and admitted to hospitals. Meanwhile, six more Palestinians have reportedly died due to forced starvation and malnutrition in the besieged enclave.

The Hamas-run Ministry of Health stated that 15 bodies were recovered from beneath the rubble of destroyed buildings. After including data approved by a judicial committee regarding previously missing persons, another 290 fatalities were added to the official count. As a result, the total death toll since the war began on October 7, 2023, has reached 60,889, with at least 149,588 others wounded.

The death toll from famine alone has now climbed to 175, including 93 children, according to the ministry. It also reported that more than 6,000 children in Gaza are currently suffering from malnutrition. Despite repeated appeals from the UN, humanitarian organizations, and world leaders to allow more aid trucks into Gaza, the Israeli government has continued to deny access, worsening the humanitarian crisis.

Qatar-based news outlet Al Jazeera reported that, despite announcing a “temporary pause” in fighting to facilitate humanitarian aid, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) have continued launching airstrikes, drone attacks, and ground operations throughout Gaza. From early morning until evening on Sunday (August 3), 69 Palestinians were killed, including 37 people who were queuing for food at aid centers run by the U.S.- and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Among the other recovered bodies, 28 were killed in overnight attacks from Saturday (August 2), 24 of whom were also aid seekers.

In the same 24-hour period, at least 65 Palestinians were killed while attempting to receive humanitarian assistance, and another 511 were injured by gunfire from Israeli forces.

The conflict began on October 7, 2023, when a Hamas attack killed 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. In response, Israel launched a large-scale military campaign in Gaza.

Although a ceasefire was announced on January 19, 2025, under pressure from the U.S. and other mediators, the IDF resumed its operations on March 18. Since the start of this second phase of the offensive, 9,350 Palestinians have been killed and 37,547 injured.