At least 86 people were killed in Israeli strikes across Gaza and scores more were wounded in the past 24 hours, local health authorities said.
Three separate airstrikes killed 26 people in total in houses in the Gaza City suburbs, where the Israeli forces stepped up aerial and ground bombardment in preparation for expanding the fighting.
Outside Gaza City's Al-Shifa hospital, white plastic body bags with corpses were laid out on the street.
Hundreds of mourners carried bodies through the streets. Others stood and prayed around a group of five bodies in shrouds, including three small children.
The Israeli army's Arabic service spokesperson told residents of Gaza there would be better humanitarian services in the south, as the army prepared to expand the Gaza City offensive.
The Israeli military did not immediately respond to a request for comment but it has stated that its forces are combating fighters on the outskirts of Gaza City, destroying tunnels and militant infrastructure and seizing weapons.
Other deaths reported included five people killed while waiting in a food line in the south, nine killed in a strike on an apartment, and seven killed by Israeli tank fire.
Thirteen more Palestinians, including three children, died of malnutrition and starvation in Gaza in the past 24 hours, the territory's health ministry said today, raising officially reported deaths from such causes to at least 361, including 130 children, the vast majority in recent weeks.
Israel disputes the hunger fatality figures given by the health ministry of Gaza's Hamas-run government, arguing that deaths were due to other medical causes.
The war in Gaza began on 7 October 2023 when gunmen led by Hamas attacked southern Israeli communities near the border, killing some 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and taking 251 hostages including children into Gaza, according to Israeli figures.
Over 62,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel's air and ground war in Gaza since then, according to Gaza health officials, who do not say how many were militants but have said most of those killed have been women and children.
Ceasefire talks that would see a pause in the fighting ended in a deadlock in July.
Israeli authorities believe that of the 48 remaining captives, 20 hostages are still alive.
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Thousands of Israeli reservists report for duty
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of reservists started to report for duty today ahead of the new Israeli offensive in Gaza City which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to speed up, despite warnings from senior ranks.
Israeli Army Radio said that some 40,000 reservists would report for duty today for the Gaza City offensive. The military said it was readying logistically for the intake of reservists ahead of the offensive.
Israel's security cabinet, chaired by Mr Netanyahu, approved a plan last month to expand the campaign in Gaza with the aim of taking Gaza City, where Israeli forces waged fierce urban warfare with Hamas in the early stages of the war. Israel currently holds about 75% of Gaza.
Belgium to recognise Palestinian state
Elsewhere, Belgium will recognise the State of Palestine at the United Nations General Assembly next week, its foreign minister has announced.
"Palestine will be recognised by Belgium at the UN session! And firm sanctions are being imposed against the Israeli government," Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot wrote on X.
More than a dozen other Western countries have since called on others to do the same.
Mr Prevot said the decision came "in view of the humanitarian tragedy" unfolding in Gaza, where Israeli offensives have displaced most of the population at least once.
"In the face of the violence perpetrated by Israel in violation of international law, given its international obligations, including the duty to prevent any risk of genocide, Belgium had to take strong decisions to increase pressure on the Israeli government and Hamas terrorists," Mr Prevot wrote.
"This is not about punishing the Israeli people, but rather about ensuring that its government respects international and humanitarian law and taking action to try to change the situation on the ground," he added.
