Authorities in the Gaza Strip, controlled by the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas), estimated this Saturday that more than 62,600 people have already died from the Israeli offensive in the enclave since the attacks by Palestinian militias on October 7, 2023, after noting 61 more deaths in the attacks of the last 24 hours.
Specifically, the Gaza Ministry of Health has put its latest death toll at 62,622 dead and 157,673 injured (308 since Friday), although the figures could be higher due to the fact that many people are still under the rubble. The Ministry reports 61 deaths in the last 24 hours and has added 298 more since the last report after receiving permission from families, following identification.
This Saturday's death toll does not include the 51 Palestinians killed in Israeli attacks since dawn, as confirmed in recent hours by various hospitals in the enclave.
Gazan authorities have also reported that since Israel broke the ceasefire signed with Hamas last March, 10,778 Palestinians have died, while 45,632 have been injured as part of the resumption of the Israeli offensive.
Likewise, 16 people have been killed and 111 injured in the enclave in the last 24 hours due to Israeli military gunfire in lines waiting to receive humanitarian aid, bringing the total number of victims to 2,076 dead and 15,308 injured, respectively.
Hospitals in Gaza have also recorded the deaths of two more children due to starvation. In total, according to the Gaza authorities, 281 people have now died from starvation, including 114 children, according to Saturday's estimates. These are the first since the UN officially declared a state of famine in Gaza Governorate, which covers the north-central part of the enclave and includes Gaza City, the most populous city in the territory.
Meanwhile, the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate has denounced the death of journalist Khaled al-Madhoun in Israeli military operations in the northern Gaza Strip, bringing the total number of media professionals killed in the current offensive to 240. The Syndicate has condemned the "systematic attacks and murders of Palestinian journalists" at the hands of Israeli forces .
