UN warns 1,760 Palestinians have died while seeking aid in Gaza since May - as Israel continues its bombardment of war-torn enclave
'Since 27 May, and as of 13 August, we have recorded that at least 1,760 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid; 994 in the vicinity of GHF (Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) sites and 766 along the routes of supply convoys.
'Most of these killings were committed by the Israeli military,' the agency's office for the Palestinian territories said in a statement.
That compares with a figure of 1,373 killed the office reported on August 1.
The update came as Gaza's civil defence agency said at least 38 people were killed by Israeli fire on Friday, including 12 who were waiting for humanitarian aid.
The Israeli military said its troops were working to 'dismantle Hamas military capabilities', adding its forces were taking precautions 'to mitigate civilian harm'.
Media restrictions in Gaza and difficulties accessing swathes of the territory mean AFP is unable to independently verify the tolls and details provided by the civil defence agency and the Israeli military.
On Wednesday, the chief of staff of the Israeli military said plans had been approved for a new offensive in Gaza, aimed at defeating Hamas and freeing all the remaining hostages.
The military intends to take control of Gaza City and nearby refugee camps, some of the most densely populated parts of the territory, which has been devastated by more than 22 months of war.
In recent days, Gaza City residents have told AFP of more frequent air strikes targeting residential areas, while earlier this week Hamas denounced 'aggressive' Israeli ground incursions in the area.
On Friday, the Israeli military said its troops were conducting a range of operations on the outskirts of the city.
The Israeli government's plans to expand the war have sparked an international outcry as well as domestic opposition.
UN-backed experts have warned of widespread famine unfolding in the territory, where Israel has drastically curtailed the amount of humanitarian aid it allows in.
But Israel insists that Gaza is not facing starvation and says Hamas is responsible for the looting of aid.
Just days ago, distressing new photos of two skeletal-looking Palestinian children emerged amid the continued war of words.
So far, 212 people, including 98 children, have reportedly died of malnutrition according to unconfirmed figures by the Hamas-run health ministry, with 11 more deaths reported last night.
The latest harrowing images to come out of the Gaza strip appear to show a severely emaciated two-year-old crying out as he is treated in hospital.
Little Sham Kadih, who appears to be suffering from malnutrition, was pictured weeping as he is tended to at Nasser Hospital on August 10.
It comes amid an on-going shortage of baby formula and medicine, which has reportedly left scores of children on the brink of starvation.
Another image purports to show three-year-old Palestinian boy Edhem Mohammed Abu Urmana being fed just water instead of baby formula.
The youngster, who appears gaunt and thin, was forced to flee his home alongside his family amid the on-going bombing campaign by Israel.
Now staying inside a tent at the Nuseirat refugee camp, Edhem is reportedly suffering from malnutrition.
He was pictured curled into a ball as he sipped water from a bottle.
Earlier this month Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff inspected a food distribution centre in war-torn Gaza.
The US ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, posted on X that he and Witkoff had gone to Gaza 'to learn the truth' about the private aid sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which is supported by the United States.
'We received briefings from IDF (the Israeli military) and spoke to folks on the ground. GHF delivers more than one million meals a day, an incredible feat!' Huckabee said.
'Hamas hates GHF because it gets food to people without it being looted by Hamas.'
The foundation, on its own X account, posted that it had been a 'privilege and honor' to host Witkoff and Huckabee as the group delivered its 100-millionth meal in Gaza, fulfilling Trump's 'call to lead with strength, compassion and action'.
Hamas's October 2023 attack which triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,219 people, according to an AFP tally based on official figures.
Israel's offensive has killed at least 61,827 Palestinians, according to figures from the health ministry in Hamas-run Gaza which the United Nations considers reliable.
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