In the last 24 hours, Israeli military operations have killed at least 135 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry. The ongoing devastation, as covered by major global news outlets, comes amid international concern over acute shortages of food, medicine, and shelter, with starvation deaths rising and the humanitarian situation worsening.
What Happened in Gaza in the Last 24 Hours?
As reported by Anadolu Agency, citing a statement by the Gaza Health Ministry on Saturday, Israeli forces killed at least 135 Palestinians and injured 312 others in the last 24 hours. The Ministry further asserted that Israeli forces committed 12 “massacres” against families throughout the Gaza Strip in this period.
The BBC’s Middle East bureau corroborated, quoting health ministry officials:
“Ten people in a house sheltering two displaced families in Rafah were among the 135 people killed in Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours”…
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) responded by saying it was “looking into the reports”.
In coverage by Al Jazeera, it was highlighted:
“Five more Palestinians starved to death in Gaza, raising the total number of hunger-related deaths to 193,” as cited by Gaza’s Ministry of Health.
Why Has the Death Toll Risen So Sharply?
According to Anadolu Agency’s Fahrettin Altun, the strikes followed
“continuing Israeli onslaughts aimed at Hamas targets,”
while large numbers of civilian casualties resulted from
“bombardments of residential and shelter areas”.
Al Jazeera’s reporting revealed,
“Many of those killed were attempting to access food aid, as rights groups and the United Nations have warned of famine and ‘irreversible humanitarian collapse.’”
The United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) stated in an August 1 press release:
“Most of the killings were committed by the Israeli military along food convoy routes and near aid sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation. OHCHR has no information indicating these Palestinians posed any threat to Israeli security forces or were participating in hostilities”.
Who Are the Victims?
As highlighted by Jack Jeffery of the Associated Press, the Gaza Health Ministry
“does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but has said women and children make up more than half the dead”.
The ministry’s reporting, widely viewed by the UN and independent experts as the most reliable source of casualties, placed the overall toll at more than 60,000 Palestinian dead since October 2023, with injuries exceeding 148,000.
The Ministry has repeatedly asserted, and it is echoed by international humanitarian groups, that many fatalities include entire families killed in their homes, as well as those who died seeking humanitarian aid.
Has Starvation Become a Major Cause of Death in Gaza?
According to Anadolu Agency’s report quoting the Health Ministry,
“Five more Gazans died of starvation in the last 24 hours… 96 children among 193 Palestinians who died of starvation since October 2023”.
ABC News’s staff corroborated:
“A Palestinian girl waits to receive food from a charity kitchen amid a hunger crisis… At least five more people died of hunger in the Gaza Strip over the past 24 hours, Gaza’s Ministry of Health said Wednesday morning”.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has issued regular updates describing “catastrophic humanitarian collapse,” with most crossings shut and less than one-sixth of required food aid entering in recent weeks, according to local authorities.
How Has Israel Responded?
When approached by BBC journalists for comment, the Israeli Defence Forces stated:
“IDF was looking into the reports” of civilian deaths in Rafah, adding that “it targets Hamas members and infrastructure and tries to minimise civilian casualties”.
In the days prior, Israel announced temporary
“daily military pauses in western Gaza to improve humanitarian responses,” as stated in UN reporting,
but attacks along convoy routes and near aid sites reportedly continued.
What Is the Palestinian and Hamas Response?
The Palestinian resistance group Hamas, according to a report by Anadolu Agency correspondent Burak Bir, issued a statement on Telegram claiming responsibility for recent attacks on Israeli targets in southern Gaza. The group’s armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, stated they killed and injured several Israeli soldiers in an ambush in Khan Younis and shelled command sites with mortars. Israel did not immediately comment and maintains strict censorship on military casualties.
What Is the Impact on Civilians and Infrastructure?
Reporting by PBS NewsHour's Jane Ferguson detailed:
“Israel’s offensive has destroyed vast areas of Gaza, displaced around 90% of the population, and caused a catastrophic humanitarian crisis, with experts warning of famine. Women and children make up around half the dead”.
The Gaza Health Ministry, cited by both the Associated Press and Anadolu Agency, also warned that
“many victims are still trapped under the rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them due to ongoing hostilities and lack of resources”.
Rafah resident Samir Qeshta, interviewed by BBC News, described his home as
“completely destroyed” due to bombardment, stating, “This house sheltered me and my children... We are peaceful people. They struck us without prior warning”.
What Does International Law Say and What Is Being Done?
The United Nations Security Council and International Court of Justice (ICJ) have urged Israel to cease operations and allow humanitarian access. As reported by Anadolu Agency, the ICC has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Despite mounting international outrage and warnings from aid groups, the Israeli blockade on Gaza remains, with
“acute shortages of food, clean water, medicines, and destruction of infrastructure for 2.4 million people”
according to Human Rights Now. Most recently, the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs cited
“millions of Palestinians struggling to live with dignity under Israeli occupation”.
How Many Have Been Killed Since the Beginning of the Conflict?
Cumulative data compiled from the Gaza Health Ministry, and cited across outlets including Associated Press, Anadolu Agency, and BBC News, shows that, since October 7, 2023:
- Over 60,000 Palestinians have died, with the majority being women and children.
- Approximately 1,200 Israelis were killed in the initial Hamas attack, with Israel not disclosing updated military casualty numbers due to censorship policy.
What Next for Gaza?
The situation in Gaza is described as
“on the verge of famine, with irreversible humanitarian collapse already underway,”
according to the United Nations and multiple humanitarian organisations. With large-scale civilian displacement and attacks continuing, the death toll—and starvation deaths—are both expected to rise.