One in five people in the Gaza Strip are facing starvation as the entire territory edges closer to famine, a new United Nations-backed report warns, after nearly three months of Israel’s blockade of critically needed humanitarian aid.

Heavy Israeli bombardment killed at least 60 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip in early morning strikes on Wednesday, according to local reports. A series of simultaneous air strikes pounded four residential areas in northern Gaza, concentrated in various parts of Jabalia refugee camp and its surroundings.

Gaza rescuers said at least 29 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Wednesday as negotiations took place in Qatar for the release of hostages still held in the war-battered territory."At least 25 martyrs were killed and dozens wounded" in Jabalia,

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says there is “no way” Israel will halt its war in Gaza, even if a deal is reached to release more hostages.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was ‘no way’ Israel would halt its war in Gaza, dimming hopes for a ceasefire.

A months-long Israeli blockade is worsening acute malnutrition in the Gaza Strip, medical charity Medecins du Monde warned on Tuesday, accusing Israel of using hunger as "a weapon of war".Israel halted all aid from entering the war-ravaged Palestinian territory on March 2,

United Nations aid chief Tom Fletcher on Tuesday said an Israeli plan aid distribution in the Gaza Strip was a "cynical sideshow, a deliberate distraction, a fig leaf for further violence and displacement" of Palestinians in the enclave.

International aid agencies warn that plans presented by Israel to control aid distribution in Gaza will only increase suffering and death in the devastated Palestinian territory.