KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Israeli airstrikes and gunfire resulted in the deaths of at least 25 Palestinians on Saturday, including individuals seeking food and shelter in tents, according to local hospitals. This violence comes as Gaza City faces a worsening famine, intensifying scrutiny on Israel amid its ongoing military operations that have lasted 22 months.

Israel's defense minister has indicated that a new military operation targeting Gaza City could commence within days, even as the humanitarian crisis deepens. Aid organizations have long warned that the conflict, which escalated following Hamas' attack on October 7, 2023, combined with months of Israeli restrictions on food and medical supplies, has led to widespread starvation. Israel has dismissed claims of famine as "an outright lie."

Ceasefire negotiations are currently stalled as mediators await Israel's next moves. In southern Gaza, airstrikes killed at least 14 people, with more than half being women and children, according to morgue records and health officials at Nasser Hospital. The strikes reportedly targeted tents housing displaced individuals in Khan Younis.

A small boy mourned his brother, asking, "Awad, why did you leave me?" Another relative, Hekmat Foujo, called for a ceasefire, saying, "We want to rest. Have some mercy on us."

In northern Gaza, Israeli gunfire claimed the lives of at least five people seeking aid near the Zikim crossing, where U.N. and other agency convoys deliver supplies. Six additional fatalities were reported in other attacks, according to health officials and the Palestinian Red Crescent. The Israeli military stated it was unaware of any strikes in Khan Younis and is investigating the incidents.

Amid the chaos, many residents, like Mohamed Saada, braved gunfire to seek food. Saada described his experience, saying, "I came here to bring food for my children but couldn’t get anything, due to the huge numbers of people and the difficulty of the situation between the shootings and the trucks running over people."

Reports indicate that nearly half a million people in Gaza, about one-fourth of the population, are facing catastrophic hunger. This alarming assessment comes from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, which warned that the famine could worsen if fighting and aid restrictions persist.

Despite some recent aid deliveries, including airdrops and land access facilitated by a new U.S.-backed supplier, the situation remains dire. The U.N. and other organizations assert that the assistance provided is insufficient.

As Israeli ground troops operate in strategic areas, a military offensive in Gaza City looms, potentially endangering hundreds of thousands of civilians. Doctors Without Borders reported a surge in patients at its clinics in the area, with project coordinator Caroline Willemen noting a significant increase in airstrikes since early August. "Those who have not moved are wondering what they should do," Willemen said. "People want to stay, they have been displaced endlessly before, but they also know that at some point it will become very dangerous to remain."

Concerns are growing that an assault on Gaza City could jeopardize the lives of 20 hostages believed to be alive since their capture in 2023, with another 30 presumed dead. Protests have erupted in Israel, with citizens demanding a resolution to the conflict and the safe return of hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that he has instructed officials to initiate negotiations to secure the release of hostages and end the war on Israel's terms.

The future of negotiations remains uncertain, particularly after Hamas indicated it would release hostages in exchange for a cessation of hostilities, while also rejecting disarmament without the establishment of a Palestinian state. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Hamas' position, suggesting that the hostages might be safer if a swift military operation were conducted.

Gaza's Health Ministry reported that at least 62,622 Palestinians have died in the conflict, with malnutrition-related deaths rising to 281. Meanwhile, protests against far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir occurred in Israel, with demonstrators calling for the return of hostages. Ben-Gvir, a key figure in Netanyahu's coalition, is known for his opposition to negotiating with Hamas.