Gaza death toll passes 65,100 as Israel’s genocidal war continues unabated

ISTANBUL

At least 65,141 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s genocidal war on the Gaza Strip since October 2023, as four more people, including one child, died of starvation in the enclave, the Health Ministry said on Thursday.

A ministry statement said that 79 bodies were brought to hospitals in the last 24 hours, while 228 people were injured, taking the number of injuries to 165,925 in the Israeli onslaught.

“Many victims are still trapped under the rubble and on the roads as rescuers are unable to reach them,” it added.

The ministry also noted that nine Palestinians were killed and over 33 others injured by Israeli army fire while trying to get humanitarian aid in the last 24 hours, bringing the total number of Palestinians killed while seeking aid to 2,513, with over 18,414 others wounded since May 27.

The ministry said four more Palestinians, including a child, died of malnutrition and starvation in the last 24 hours. This brought the famine-linked death toll since October 2023 to 435 people, including 147 children.

Since March 2, Israeli authorities have completely closed all Gaza border crossings, pushing the territory’s 2.4 million population into famine.

Famine has been confirmed in northern Gaza, and is projected to expand to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis in central and southern Gaza by the end of September, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

Since IPC declared famine in Gaza, 157 people have starved to death, including 32 children, the ministry said.

The Israeli army resumed its attacks on the Gaza Strip on March 18 and has since killed 12,590 people and injured 53,884 others, shattering a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement that took hold in January.