GAZA CITY, Palestine: The death toll in Gaza has risen to at least 50,846 since the start of Israel’s military offensive in October 2023, with 115,729 others wounded, Gaza’s Health Ministry said on Wednesday.
The ministry warned that the actual number of casualties is likely higher, as many victims remain trapped under the rubble or are unreachable due to continued Israeli bombardment.
On Wednesday, a deadly Israeli airstrike hit a residential building in Gaza City’s Shujaiya neighbourhood, killing at least 29 people—most of them women and children—Gaza’s civil defence agency reported.
Spokesman Mahmud Bassal said more than 60 people were injured in the attack and that “there are still people trapped under the rubble.”
However, the Israeli military said that it targeted a “senior Hamas terrorist responsible for planning and executing attacks.”
The military did not identify the individual but reiterated its claim that Hamas uses civilians as “human shields”.
Hamas condemned the strike, calling it “one of the most heinous acts of genocide.”
In a statement, the group said, “The terrorist Zionist occupation army has committed a bloody massacre by bombing a densely populated residential area filled with civilians and displaced people.”
The Palestinian group added that continued attacks were being carried out “with full support from the American administration,” which it accused of complicity in the aggression.
Since Israel resumed its offensive on March 18—ending a two-month ceasefire—at least 1,482 Palestinians have been killed.
The renewed military operations have also halted humanitarian aid to the besieged enclave, worsening an already dire situation for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Tuesday described Gaza as “a killing field.”
He criticised Israel’s ongoing blockade, stating that “more than an entire month has passed without a drop of aid into Gaza. No food. No fuel. No medicine. No commercial supplies.”
Guterres added that while aid is available, it is being deliberately blocked: “There is no shortage of aid. The problem is access.”
Gavin Kelleher of the Norwegian Refugee Council said food distributions have “almost stopped altogether,” with the few remaining supplies being used for hot meal distributions that will soon run out.
Juliette Touma, spokesperson for the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), said the situation is rapidly deteriorating.
“The prices of commodities have exponentially increased over the past month,” she said.
“Babies and children are going to bed hungry. Every day without these basic supplies, Gaza inches closer towards very, very deep hunger.”
According to the Health Ministry, at least 60,000 children are at risk of severe health complications due to malnutrition.
The blockade has forced the closure of 21 nutrition centres, disrupting critical treatment for around 350 already severely malnourished children, the UN reported.
Despite the worsening humanitarian crisis, negotiations for a new ceasefire have failed so far.
Hamas political bureau member Hossam Badran said on Tuesday that the group was still in contact with mediators but that “so far, there are no new proposals.”
He added that Hamas remains open to any initiative that would end the violence and stop the ongoing “genocide.”
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated earlier this week that talks are ongoing to secure the release of hostages held in Gaza.
