Israel’s war on Gaza live: Starvation toll rises to 20, more feared dead

By Zaheena Rasheed and Alastair McCready

Calls to allow more aid into the Gaza Strip grow louder as health officials report 20 people in total have now died from malnutrition and dehydration.
“We believe that dozens are dying silently as a result of starvation without reaching hospitals,” Gaza Health Ministry spokesman Ashraf al-Qudra says in a statement.
South Africa requests additional action, immediate ceasefire order from International Court of Justice to prevent “full-scale famine” in Gaza.
Houthi-claimed strike on cargo ship causes first deaths since group began attacks on Red Sea shipping in response to Israel’s war on Gaza.
At least 30,717 Palestinians have been killed and 72,156 wounded in Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 7. The death toll in Israel from the October 7 Hamas attacks stands at 1,139.

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28m ago

(03:00 GMT)

China’s Wang Yi says Gaza war a ‘tragedy and disgrace’, calls for ceasefire

China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is speaking to journalists at a rare press conference in Beijing.

Asked about the conflict in Gaza, Wang called the conflict a “tragedy for humanity and a disgrace for civilisation” and reiterated calls for an immediate ceasefire, urging the international community to “act promptly” to achieve that goal.

“The people of Gaza have a right to life,” he said in Mandarin.

Wang also called for the release of all detainees and for the resumption of peace talks.

He stressed China’s support for a two-state solution, saying it was the only way to bring an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He also called for Palestine’s full membership of the United Nations, urging “a certain UN member not to lay obstacles to that end”.