Palestinians reel from fresh Israeli offensives as famine and casualties surge

GAZA, Palestine (MNTV) — Israeli military strikes across the Gaza Strip have killed at least 34 Palestinians since dawn on Monday, with 20 deaths reported in northern Gaza and Gaza City alone, according to Gaza medical sources.

Among the dead were four individuals attempting to access aid. Over the past 24 hours, Gaza has witnessed one of its deadliest phases yet.

At least 115 people were killed, including 79 aid seekers shot at the Zikim crossing and 13 others targeted at Gaza Health Facility (GHF) sites.

A total of 134 bodies, including four previously missing persons, and 1,155 wounded individuals were transported to hospitals in that period.

In Gaza City, at least five civilians were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a water desalination plant.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army launched a new ground offensive in Deir al-Balah, deploying units from the elite Golani Brigade, according to local media. No additional details were provided by the army or Israeli sources.

Images and videos flooding social media show starving Palestinian children, women, and men lying unconscious on hospital floors. Others are seen collapsing from hunger or pleading for urgent global intervention.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned of a severe deterioration in Gaza’s food security. Between January and June, over 19,000 children under age five were admitted for treatment of acute malnutrition—more than 100 per day on average.

“People in Gaza are starving, sick and dying, while food and medicines are minutes away across the border,” the WHO said, adding that 18 people died of starvation just in the last 24 hours.

A total of 61 starvation-related deaths have been recorded since October 2023.

According to WHO, access to food remains severely restricted. Looting, militarized distribution, and limited aid entry have left families relying on a single nutritionally poor meal per day. Many go without food entirely.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) also sounded the alarm, saying it has enough food stockpiled outside Gaza to feed the population for three months, but cannot bring it in due to the blockade.

“The suffering in Gaza is man-made and must be stopped,” UNRWA said in a statement, calling on Israel to lift the siege and allow safe and large-scale aid delivery.

Public outrage is spreading across the Muslim world. Protesters have rallied in Tunisia, Iraq, Turkiye, Morocco, Lebanon, and Ramallah to condemn the siege and humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Meanwhile, the Israeli army has admitted for the first time a major depletion in its forces, with 7,500 soldiers currently lacking across units. The military is short 300 platoon commanders, prompting them to appoint experienced sergeants in command roles.

The Gaza Health Ministry reported that 59,029 Palestinians have been killed and 142,135 injured since the genocide began.

Over 1,021 deaths and 6,511 injuries have occurred at food distribution sites alone.

Last November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Separately, Israel is facing genocide charges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

With famine looming and the death toll rising, international organizations and human rights bodies are calling for an immediate ceasefire and unfettered humanitarian access to prevent further catastrophe.