Aug. 23 (UPI) — Dozens of people were killed in Gaza, officials said Saturday, as protestors in Israel demand an end to the war in the Palestinian enclave and release of the remaining Hamas-held hostages.
The Gaza Health Ministry said Saturday 61 Palestinians had been killed over the last 24 hours, with more than 300 people wounded.
At least four children were among the dead, Al Jazeera reported.
The news comes as those opposing Israel’s war in Gaza, including an expanded offensive, are set to take to the streets in Israel on Saturday night, calling on Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to bring an end to the conflict that has lasted almost 700 days.
Families of the remaining hostages held by Hamas have organized the protest, calling for the release of their loved ones.
Officials estimate the militant group is still holding 49 people captive in Gaza, including two Americans. Of that number, it is believed 22 remain alive.
Protests were scheduled to start at 8 p.m. local time in the city’s Hostages Square.
A nationwide strike on Sunday commenced in Israel as several hundred thousand people protested. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum and October Council, which represents family members of hostages or relatives of those killed, organized the strike and demonstrations.
The council wanted nearly one million people to go through Hostages Square in Tel Aviv and others to join in activities at cities throughout the nation.
On Friday, the world hunger monitoring agency, Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, declared a famine in Northern Gaza, where starvation is affecting more than 500,000 people.
The area included Gaza City, the capital of the Palestinian enclave.
The Rome-based agency expects starvation numbers to surpass 600,000 people in September.
Netanyahu this week promised to begin a ground invasion of the city, approving an Israel Defense Forces plan to take control of the area.
At the time he also called for the “immediate initiation of negotiations” related to hostages held by Hamas.