Death Toll in Israel’s War on Gaza Surpasses 60,000 Amid Famine Crisis

Gaza City, July 29, 2025 – The death toll in Israel’s ongoing war on Gaza has exceeded 60,000, with Gaza’s Ministry of Health reporting at least 60,034 Palestinians killed since the conflict began in October 2023. On Tuesday, medical sources told Al Jazeera that 81 Palestinians, including 19 aid seekers, were killed in Israeli attacks since dawn, despite announced “pauses” in fighting to allow humanitarian aid delivery. Local accounts described the use of booby-trapped robots, tanks, and drones in what residents called one of the bloodiest nights in recent weeks, raising fears of an imminent Israeli ground offensive, according to Al Jazeera’s Tareq Abu Azzoum, reporting from Deir el-Balah in central Gaza.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) has warned that Gaza is facing a “worst-case scenario of famine,” with food consumption and acute malnutrition thresholds already reached in most of the Gaza Strip, particularly in Gaza City. The IPC report highlights that one in three individuals is going days without food, and over 20,000 children were admitted for malnutrition treatment between April and mid-July, with more than 3,000 classified as severely malnourished. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the situation as a “humanitarian catastrophe of epic proportions,” urging an immediate end to aid blockades and calling for a “permanent humanitarian ceasefire,” the release of all captives, and unrestricted access for humanitarian agencies. He emphasized that the current “trickle of aid” must become an “ocean” of food, water, medicine, and fuel to avert further disaster.

The crisis has severely impacted vulnerable groups, with at least 147 people, including 88 children, having died from malnutrition since the war began, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry. Sima Bahous, Executive Director of UN Women, noted that one million women and girls face the dire choice between starvation and risking their lives to seek food, calling for unhindered aid access and a permanent ceasefire. Medical professionals report devastating effects on children, with Dr. Ahmed al-Farra, Director of Paediatrics and Maternity at Nasser Hospital, describing malnourished babies as having “just skin over the bone.” Malnutrition in early childhood can lead to long-term issues, including stunted cognitive development, difficulty with reading and writing, and mental health challenges like depression and anxiety. Dr. Tanya Haj Hassan of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) explained that malnutrition causes widespread bodily damage, affecting intestinal function, pancreatic health, and heart function, often leading to fatal heart failure, sepsis, or shock even after food becomes available. The IPC’s May analysis projected that by September, Gaza’s entire 2.1 million population would face acute food insecurity, with over 500,000 at risk of extreme starvation unless Israel lifts its blockade and halts military operations. Despite Israel’s partial lifting of the blockade in March, humanitarian aid remains severely restricted, exacerbating the crisis. International condemnation is growing, with over 100 charity and human rights groups accusing Israel of pushing Gaza toward “mass starvation” through its blockade and military actions. The UN and aid agencies report that Israeli forces have killed over 1,000 aid seekers since May, often near distribution points, further complicating aid delivery. As ceasefire talks mediated by Qatar and Egypt stall, with US envoy Steve Witkoff engaging in negotiations, the humanitarian crisis deepens, leaving Gaza’s population in a state of desperation described by UNRWA’s Philippe Lazzarini as “walking corpses.”