The Palestinian death toll in Gaza has passed 60,000. The world’s leading authority on food crises says the “worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out” in the territory of over 2 million people.

Britain said on Tuesday it would recognise a Palestinian state unless Israel takes steps to relieve suffering in Gaza, where starvation is spreading, and reaches a ceasefire in the nearly two-year war with Hamas.

Operations in parts of the enclave were put on hold to allow more aid. It was unclear if the move would relieve the hunger crisis, amid rising deaths from starvation.

The United Nations food aid agency needs quick approvals by Israel for its trucks to move into Gaza if it is to take advantage of Israel's planned humanitarian pauses in fighting, a senior World Food Programme official said on Sunday.

More than 38 Palestinians were killed in strikes from late Saturday into Sunday, including 23 people seeking aid, Gaza health officials say