31 dead in Gaza since dawn, and the occupation kills a child every 40 minutes.

Sources in Gaza hospitals confirmed the death of 31 Palestinians, including children, due to the occupation's fire in several areas of the strip since the dawn of Wednesday. This comes as part of the ongoing genocide since October 7, 2023, where the Palestinian people are suffering from harsh humanitarian conditions.

Among the dead, 8 were waiting for aid who were injured by the occupation's fire near the Netzarim axis in central Gaza. Two children were also martyred and others were injured in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a house in the Al-Samer area of Gaza City, resulting in the complete destruction of the house and severe damage to neighboring homes.

Five Palestinians from one family were martyred, including a couple and their children, as a result of an airstrike that targeted a tent for displaced persons in the Al-Shati camp west of Gaza City. In another airstrike, 4 Palestinians, including children, were killed near the Islamic University in the city.

The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced the death of more Palestinians due to starvation, with the total number of martyrs from starvation and malnutrition rising to 266, including 112 children. This catastrophic situation reflects the extent of suffering experienced by Palestinians in the besieged strip.

The occupation army continues its intensive attack on the Al-Zeitoun neighborhood in Gaza City for the tenth consecutive day, resulting in the martyrdom of 4 Palestinians from one family and injuries to others. The forces have also destroyed more than 400 homes and civilian facilities, amid ongoing targeting of citizens with airstrikes and artillery shelling.

The Director-General of the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza, Munir Al-Bursh, stated that the Israeli occupation kills a child every 40 minutes in Gaza, noting that 28 children are martyred daily. More than one million children in Gaza suffer from psychological trauma, with 50% of them recorded as having post-traumatic stress disorders.

In a related context, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) stated that more than 540 children have been killed each month over the past five months, reflecting the scale of the humanitarian disaster faced by children in Gaza.

On another note, Israeli media reported that the Israeli Defense Minister and the Chief of Staff approved a plan to occupy Gaza City, as the army began calling up 60,000 reservists as part of military preparations for the occupation of the city.