The UN human rights office said Friday that at least 1,760 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid in Gaza since late May, as Israeli forces continue to open fire on starving civilians.

"Since 27 May, and as of 13 August, we have recorded that at least 1,760 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid; 994 in the vicinity of GHF (Gaza Humanitarian Foundation) sites and 766 along the routes of supply convoys. Most of these killings were committed by the Israeli military," the agency's office for the Palestinian territories said in a statement.

That compares with a figure of 1,373 killed the office reported on August 1.

The update came as Gaza's civil defence agency said at least 23 people were killed by Israeli fire on Friday, including 12 who were waiting for humanitarian aid.

The Israeli strikes on Gaza come as the Israeli military gears up for a new offensive to seize the densely-populated Gaza City and neighbouring refugee camps to the north in order to ethnically cleanse the area, which triggered international condemnation.

In recent days, Gaza City residents have told AFP of more frequent air strikes targeting residential areas, while earlier this week Hamas denounced "aggressive" Israeli ground incursions in the area.

UN-backed experts have warned of widespread famine unfolding in the territory, where Israel's five-month blockade has prevented the entry of food and humanitarian aid.

Since the blockade was imposed on 2 March, Gaza’s 2.3 million people have been pushed into famine, with malnutrition and starvation-related deaths rising sharply.

On Thursday, Gaza’s health ministry reported four more deaths from starvation and malnutrition, bringing the total to 239, including 106 children.

The ministry also said Israeli strikes killed at least 54 Palestinians across the Gaza Strip in the past 24 hours, raising the death toll since 7 October 2023 to 61,776, mostly women and children.

Independent estimates suggest the true toll from Israel’s war on Gaza is significantly higher, with 154,906 injured and thousands more missing or presumed buried beneath rubble from Israeli bombing.