KEY POINTS
- Gaza’s total death toll since October 2023 soared to 62,819.
- Malnutrition and famine-related deaths rose to 303, including 117 children.
- Aid deliveries remain limited, with WFP warning only limited aid is entering Gaza.
- Qatar says mediators still awaiting Israel’s response to a true plan that Hamas accepted.
- Global outrage after Israeli strike on Nasser hospital kills 20, including five journalists.
GAZA CITY, Palestine: At least 75 Palestinians, including 17 aid seekers, were killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza over the past 24 hours, the territory’s health ministry said on Tuesday, as the famine crisis deepens amid stalled truce efforts.
The health ministry said that since October 2023, the ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza has killed more than 62,819 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured 158,629 others. The ministry said that the number of people killed while seeking aid had risen to 2,140 since late May.
Gaza’s health ministry also reported that three more persons had died “due to famine and malnutrition” in the past 24 hours, raising the number of famine-related deaths in the enclave to 303, including 117 children.
Famine in Gaza
The United Nations formally declared a famine in Gaza on Friday, blaming Israel’s “systematic obstruction” of humanitarian aid during nearly two years of military offensive in the Palestinian territory.
The World Food Programme (WFP) warned on Tuesday that the limited aid reaching Gaza remains far below what is needed.
“There has been a slight uptick in aid, averaging around 100 trucks per day in the past two weeks, but that’s still a drop in the ocean when we’re talking about assisting some 2.1 million people,” WFP chief operating officer Carl Skau told AFP during a visit to New Delhi.
“We need a completely different level of assistance to be able to turn this trajectory of famine around,” he said, warning that desperation was so high that people were grabbing food directly from trucks, disrupting orderly distribution and leaving women and children most at risk.
The Rome-based Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said famine already affects 500,000 people in Gaza, warning it could expand to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by September without an immediate large-scale response.
Gaza’s health ministry appealed for urgent international support to replenish blood stocks, saying hospitals require at least 350 units daily.
The ministry said community donation campaigns have collapsed due to widespread hunger and malnutrition.
Mediators await Israeli response
Qatar, a mediator along with Egypt and the United States, said it was still waiting for Israel’s response to a proposed ceasefire and hostage release deal that Hamas accepted more than a week ago.
“We are still waiting for an answer,” foreign ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari told reporters in Doha.
“Attempts to stall by shifting locations or other tactics are clear to the international community. It is time for Israel to give a serious answer.”
Dr. @majedalansari, Advisor to the Prime Minister and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, during the weekly media briefing: We are not concerned with political posturing inside Israel. The talks have taken place in Doha, Cairo, and elsewhere, and we welcome all… pic.twitter.com/2Y6xMJJIAI
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) August 26, 2025
International condemnation of hospital strikes
Global criticism intensified after an Israeli strike hit the Nasser hospital in Khan Younis on Monday, killing at least 20 people, including five journalists, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incident as a “tragic mishap”, while rights groups and humanitarian organisations accused Israel of deliberately targeting medics and reporters.
The IDF claims the Nasser Hospital massacre was caused by a “Tank shell.” This is false. Our researchers have analysed the footage and confirmed it shows a guided missile fired on a direct trajectory from the northwest — consistent with precision systems such as Spike NLOS .… pic.twitter.com/B3yYWtiKU2
— The Hind Rajab Foundation (@HindRFoundation) August 25, 2025
China said it was “shocked” by the strike, while Switzerland, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan Turkiye, Canada, France, Germany, and the United Nations condemned the attack and called for independent investigations.
#Gaza | #Switzerland strongly condemns the Israeli attack on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, which caused numerous civilian casualties.
Civilians and civilian infrastructure must be protected at all times, in accordance with #IHL.
— Swiss MFA (@SwissMFA) August 25, 2025
UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini warned the strike amounted to silencing “the last remaining voices reporting about children dying silently and famine.”
#Gaza: more journalists killed today.
Silencing the last remaining voices reporting about children dying silently amid #famine .The world’s indifference & inaction is shocking.
Like Hannah Arendt said: “The death of human empathy is one of the earliest and most telling signs…
— Philippe Lazzarini (@UNLazzarini) August 25, 2025
European pressure
More than 200 former European Union ambassadors and senior officials signed a letter urging tougher EU action against Israel.
Ireland’s deputy prime minister Simon Harris described the intervention as “vital” and said collective EU measures were “long overdue”.
A vital, unprecedented intervention. The time for collective EU action is long overdue. There are clear, concrete measures the EU can take. If we don’t take collective action now against the backdrop of famine, when will we? Collective EU action could make a powerful difference https://t.co/hq9qxalcz5
— Simon Harris TD (@SimonHarrisTD) August 26, 2025
Meanwhile, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said her country was not ruling out recognition of a Palestinian state, stressing the need for a “democratic” framework.
Growing regional concern
Pakistan and Türkiye jointly expressed “deep concern” over Gaza’s worsening humanitarian crisis during talks in Jeddah, reaffirming solidarity with Palestinians and calling for urgent relief measures.
Pleased to meet my brother, FM of Türkiye, H.E. Hakan Fidan @HakanFidan, today on sidelines of 21st extraordinary session of #OIC CFM.
I expressed my deep appreciation to Türkiye for its leadership role in the capacity of the Chair of the 51st OIC Council of Foreign Ministers.… pic.twitter.com/43CUVX778E
— Ishaq Dar (@MIshaqDar50) August 26, 2025
Saudi Arabia also condemned Israel’s targeting of medical and media personnel, reiterating its demand for an end to violations of international law.
#Statement | The Foreign Ministry expresses the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's condemnation of Israeli occupation forces' targeting of medical, relief, and media personnel at the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/oXgFP4Ta52
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) August 25, 2025
US and UN reactions
US President Donald Trump said he expected a “conclusive ending” to the Gaza conflict within “two to three weeks” and confirmed a “very serious” diplomatic push to secure a deal.
French President Emmanuel Macron described Israeli strikes on hospitals as “intolerable”, while Germany urged Israel to grant media access to Gaza.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the famine in Gaza was a “failure of humanity” and a “man-made disaster”.
The IPC said more than half a million Palestinians were already living in “catastrophic conditions” defined by “starvation, destitution, and death”.
It warned that without immediate large-scale aid, famine-related deaths would escalate “unacceptably” across the territory in the coming weeks.
