The ministry says two more people have died of malnutrition, bringing the number of hunger related deaths since the start of the war to 159.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff was expected to arrive in Israel on Thursday in a bid to salvage Gaza ceasefire talks and tackle a humanitarian crisis in the Palestinian enclave, where a global hunger monitor has warned that famine was unfolding.

Canadian aid is being airdropped into Gaza a day after Ottawa announced its intention to recognize Palestinian statehood.