At least 81 Palestinians were killed on Thursday as Israel launched its long-expected assault on Gaza City, the largest urban area in the enclave, where nearly one million people remain trapped under worsening famine conditions.
Health officials in Gaza confirmed that three more people also died from starvation, raising the hunger-related death toll to 269, including 112 children. Israeli airstrikes and artillery fire hit multiple areas across the Strip, including a tent shelter for displaced families in southern Gaza, where three people were killed.
In one incident, former Palestinian national basketball player Mohammed Shaalan was shot dead while trying to collect aid. Witnesses reported that at least 30 others were killed at food distribution points during the day.
The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) said starvation is spreading rapidly, with one in three children in Gaza City already malnourished. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) described the situation as catastrophic, saying doctors and aid workers are walking long distances under heavy fire to reach posts. Gaza’s civil defence authority warned it can no longer respond to emergencies due to fuel shortages caused by the blockade.
Israeli rights group Gisha accused Israel of using aid as a weapon of war, rejecting claims that the UN was responsible for delays in deliveries.
The Israeli military confirmed it has entered the first stages of its planned takeover of Gaza City, calling up 60,000 reservists. Tanks and troops have been moving closer to the city centre in recent days. The UN warned the offensive could cause another wave of mass displacement among civilians who have already been uprooted many times since the war began.
Relatives of Israeli captives condemned the government’s actions, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of refusing a Hamas-backed ceasefire deal. Hamas said the Gaza City offensive proves Israel’s intention is to destroy the city and displace its residents.
Mediators from Qatar and Egypt are waiting for Israel’s response to a new 60-day truce proposal, which includes a phased prisoner exchange and increased humanitarian access. Hamas has already signaled its acceptance. Netanyahu has not given a public response but insists any deal must guarantee the release of all hostages at once.
Humanitarian groups say the crisis has reached unbearable levels. Save the Children’s regional director, Ahmed Alhendaw, described Gaza’s reality as “apocalyptic” for children and families. Analysts warn that without stronger pressure from Arab states and the U.S., the war risks pushing Gaza further into destruction and mass starvation.
