Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 52,535

The Palestinian death toll from the Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 52,535, with 118,491 others injured, since the Israel-Hamas conflict broke out in early October 2023, said Gaza-based health authorities in a statement on Sunday.

Since Israel resumed intensive strikes on March 18, following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire, at least 2,436 Palestinians have been killed and 6,450 others injured, the statement added.

Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 20 Palestinians on Sunday, including women and children, as ground and air operations intensified amid continued shelling and drone attacks on residential areas, according to local authorities.

At least 11 people, including seven women and three children, were killed when an airstrike hit a tent sheltering displaced families in Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis, Civil Defense Authority spokesperson Mahmoud Basal stated.

In central Gaza, one woman died and several were injured in a strike on the Abu Huwaishel family home in Nuseirat refugee camp. Northern Gaza also came under fire, with one man killed and his wife and others wounded in a drone strike on al-Nakhil Street in Gaza City's al-Tuffah neighborhood.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement that its troops continued "operational activity" to dismantle militant infrastructure and eliminate operatives. The Israeli Air Force struck over 100 targets across the Gaza Strip, including tunnels, underground sites, and military structures.

"The humanitarian situation throughout the Gaza Strip is beyond imagination," the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East warned on Sunday.

The UN agency said on social media platform that "as the complete blocking of supplies essential for survival enters its ninth week, there must be a concerted international effort to stop this humanitarian catastrophe from reaching a new unseen level," reiterating its call for an urgent ceasefire.

Meanwhile, the Hamas-run media office warned of an imminent humanitarian disaster in Gaza due to the continued closure of the crossings and a stifling blockade lasting more than 60 days.

The office said in a press statement that "the Israeli occupation continues to prevent the entry of baby formula, nutritional supplements, and all forms of humanitarian aid, leaving more than 70,000 children hospitalized due to severe malnutrition."

It added that more than 3,500 children under the age of five are at imminent risk of death from starvation.

The statement called on the international community to take urgent and immediate action to reopen crossings and allow the entry of baby formula and nutritional supplements into Gaza.

Israel halted the flow of goods and supplies into Gaza on March 2 following the expiration of the first phase of a January ceasefire agreement with Hamas. The second phase has yet to be implemented due to a lack of consensus between the parties.

Palestinian death toll in Gaza rises to 52,535

Thousands of demonstrators rallied in Italy and Greece on Saturday to protest against U.S. military intervention in Venezuela, with protesters in Rome, Milan and Athens condemning Washington's actions and calling for respect for Venezuelan sovereignty.

In Rome, more than 1,000 demonstrators marched toward the area near the U.S. Embassy, calling on Washington to immediately release Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife.

Police blocked roads around the embassy to prevent protesters from approaching the building, but demonstrators continued to denounce U.S. actions.

"First of all, we oppose U.S. imperialist aggression. This kind of behavior is shameful. The U.S. is attacking a sovereign country, and as [U.S. President Donald] Trump himself has said, this is for oil interests," said protester Giovanni Barbera.

Saturday's rally marked the second large-scale protest in Rome this month against U.S. military operations in Venezuela, following an earlier one on on Jan 3.

Participants included members of multiple political parties, labor unions and social organizations. The protesters held banners reading "Stop imperialist interference" and "Free Maduro," urging the international community to respect Venezuela's sovereignty and the will of its people, and condemning the U.S. for violating international law.

"We are protesting the way the U.S. handles international politics. Since the events of January 3, we have seen violations of international law, and we are very concerned about how the global situation is developing," said protester Stefano De Angelis.

Organizers said solidarity rallies in support of Venezuela were held in 30 Italian cities on the same day.

Meanwhile, similar protests were also staged in Greece. About 200 people gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Athens, voicing support for Venezuela and opposition to U.S. military actions.

"We oppose U.S. imperialism and its attack on Venezuela. At the same time, the U.S. is also threatening Cuba, Mexico and Greenland. We must stand up against this behavior," said Greek protester Argiro Sirmakezi.

Protesters rally in Italy, Greece against U.S. military operation in Venezuela