The Gaza Health Ministry confirmed on Sunday that the Palestinian death toll from Israel’s relentless military campaign since October 2023 has risen to 64,871, with at least 164,610 people wounded.

Officials stressed that the overwhelming majority of the victims are women and children, underscoring the devastating humanitarian cost of the ongoing assault.

Health authorities reported two more deaths from starvation and severe malnutrition in the past 24 hours, raising the total number of famine-related fatalities to 420, including 145 children. Aid organizations have repeatedly warned of a man-made famine in Gaza, driven by Israel’s ongoing blockade and restrictions on the entry of food, medicine, and fuel.

Emergency responders remain unable to access many of the injured and retrieve bodies trapped under the rubble or lying on roads throughout the enclave. According to Gaza’s civil defense, Israeli forces continue to target ambulances and rescue crews, further crippling the already devastated health system and leaving entire neighborhoods without emergency assistance.

Despite mounting international pressure, including United Nations Security Council calls for an immediate ceasefire and legally binding directives from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to prevent genocide and alleviate the humanitarian catastrophe, Israel’s military offensive shows no sign of abating.

Human rights groups and legal experts warn that the situation in Gaza is worsening by the day, with the risk of mass starvation and disease compounding the death toll from airstrikes and shelling. (ILKHA)