Israeli attack in Gaza: 33 killed in strikes, 4 starve to death

At least 33 Palestinians have been killed and 146 others wounded in Israeli airstrikes across Gaza in the past 24 hours, according to the territory’s Health Ministry.

The latest casualties bring the total Palestinian death toll to 65,174 since the war began on October 7, 2023. At least 166,071 people have been injured, reports Al Jazeera.

The ministry also reported that four more Palestinians, including a child, died from starvation and malnutrition in the past day, raising the death toll from famine-related causes to 440, including 147 children.

Since northern Gaza was declared a famine zone by the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) last month, at least 162 people, among them 332 children, have died from hunger-related causes.

The IPC has warned that famine could soon expand to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis, amid continued Israeli closure of Gaza’s border crossings since March 2. The siege has pushed Gaza’s 2.4 million residents to the brink of mass starvation.

According to Anadolu Agency, all 32 of the airstrike-related deaths on Friday occurred in Gaza City. Separately, one person was killed and 17 others wounded when Israeli forces opened fire on a crowd waiting for humanitarian aid distributed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a joint US-Israeli initiative.

Since the GHF began operations on May 27, at least 2,514 Palestinians seeking aid have been killed and 18,431 injured, the Health Ministry said.

Rescue efforts across the enclave remain severely limited due to shortages of equipment and personnel. Officials warn the actual number of casualties may be significantly higher, with many victims still trapped under rubble.

The war erupted after Hamas launched a sudden attack on southern Israel on October 7, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel says 48 captives remain in Gaza, with at least 20 believed to be alive.

Although a temporary ceasefire was declared on January 19 under international pressure, Israeli operations resumed on March 18. Since then, 12,622 Palestinians have been killed and 54,030 injured.