Six months later, the situation in Gaza is getting worse. Hostages still not released.

The Israel-Hamas conflict has stretched on for half a year, becoming one of the most destructive, deadly, and intractable of the 21st century.

Since Hamas' October 7 cross-border attack, Israel has pummelled the Gaza Strip, displacing the vast majority of the population and causing many to flee to Gaza's southernmost city, Rafah.

Food is scarce, the UN says famine is approaching and few Palestinians have been able to leave the besieged territory.

The number of Palestinians killed in Gaza has surpassed 33,000 including 13,800 children. 1,200 people have died in Israel. Here are the latest updates:

Gaza is starving.

More than two million people in Gaza are almost completely reliant on aid shipments almost six months into Israel's devastating siege and invasion of the territory.

The World Health Organisation says that before the invasion, just 0.8 per cent of children under five were acutely malnourished in Gaza. In February that figure was as high as 16.5 per cent and the situation continues to worsen.

Oxfam Australia said people in northern Gaza had been forced to survive on an average of 245 calories a day - less than a can of beans - since January.

Zaqout was born Oct. 7, the day Israel invaded. Mothers who gave birth that day fret that their six-month-old babies have known nothing but brutal war, characterised by a lack of baby food, unsanitary shelter conditions and the crashing of airstrikes. Image: AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana/AAP.

He added that if intent was proven, that would amount to a war crime.

Four Australian faith, humanitarian and health groups united on Monday to call on the government to sanction Israeli officials who have advocated denying aid to Gaza, along with military and civil servants stopping civilians from getting food and other essentials.

Australian Council for International Development chief executive, Marc Purcell, said the world was witnessing a man-made, preventable famine in Gaza and "it will have a permanent stain on all our collective humanity".

He pointed to high-ranking Israeli officials as publicly expressing their aim to deprive civilians in Gaza of food, water and fuel.

"As the world watched in horror and condemned unequivocally the militant attacks on Israel on October 7, so now do we unequivocally condemn the use of starvation of the Palestinian people as a weapon of war against them," Mr Purcell said.

The ongoing bombardment of Gaza has damaged or destroyed more than 50 per cent of buildings in Gaza according to Axios, including more than 70 per cent in the northern regions.

A few days ago Reporters Without Borders reported that the number of journalists killed in Gaza has risen to 140, leading to an increasing blackout on information on the ground.

Where negotiations on a ceasefire stand.

Israel says it has withdrawn more soldiers from southern Gaza, leaving just one brigade, as it and Hamas send teams to Egypt for fresh talks on a potential ceasefire.

Israel has been reducing numbers in Gaza since the start of the year to relieve reservists and is under growing pressure from its ally Washington to improve the humanitarian situation, especially after last week's killing of seven aid workers including Australian, Zomi Frankcom.

The military spokesperson did not give details on reasons for withdrawing soldiers or numbers involved. But Defence Minister, Yoav Gallant, said the troops will be preparing for future operations in Gaza.

The rubble of destroyed houses following an Israeli military operation in Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip on April 8th. Image: Getty.

Hamas wants any deal to bring about an end to the war and withdrawal of Israeli forces. Israel has said that, after any truce, it would topple Hamas, which is sworn to its destruction.

Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said there would be no deal without a hostage release and that he would not cave to international pressure. Hamas says an agreement must include freedom of movement of residents across the Gaza Strip.

Israeli officers sacked over deaths of aid workers.

The Israeli military has dismissed two of its officers over drone strikes that killed Australian, Zomi Frankcom, and six colleagues while they were delivering aid in Gaza.

In a report released on Friday, the military said they had mishandled critical information and violated the army's rules of engagement.

Three others were also reprimanded for their roles in the strikes on a convoy of World Central Kitchen (WCK) workers on Monday.

Following Israel's announcement on Friday, WCK said the Israeli investigation was an important step but there needed to be a systemic change to prevent "more apologies and more grieving families".

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Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, said it was not good enough to describe the killings of the aid workers as "just a product of war".

He previously labelled the explanations of the deaths given by Israel as "insufficient and unacceptable".

Foreign Minister, Penny Wong, rebuked Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, for "deeply insensitive" comments attempting to "brush aside" his military's culpability in the strike.

In a video statement released on Tuesday, Mr Netanyahu admitted Israeli forces "unintentionally" hit innocent people, adding "this happens in wartime".

Ms Frankcom's family say they support a war crimes investigation and charges if they are justified.

Families of Israeli hostages mark six months.

More than 250 hostages - including children and elderly, civilians and soldiers - were seized and some 1,200 people killed during Hamas' October 7 attack, according to Israeli tallies.

Around half of them were released as part of a brief truce deal in late November, but 130 hostages are still unaccounted for. At least 34 are presumed dead.

Thousands rallied in Jerusalem over the weekend demanding their release, while families gathered at the Nova Festival site, where their loved ones were kidnapped.

Family members visit the memorial site for victims killed during the Nova music festival in the October 07, six months on. Image: EPA/ABIR SULTAN.

With AAP.

Related:

6-year-old Hind Rajab found dead in Gaza days after calling for help.

Why didn't Australia call for a ceasefire in Gaza?

Feature image: AP Photo/Fatima Shbair/AAP.