ISRAELI military action killed at least 52 more Palestinians in Gaza today, including 26 seeking food aid.

And five more people, including two children, have died of starvation, bringing the number of hunger-related deaths to 217 and the number of children among them to 100.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu engaged in a war of words with opponents of his plan to invade and occupy Gaza City, as the United Nations security council discussed the situation in an emergency session.

“Our goal is not to occupy Gaza, it is to free Gaza,” Mr Netanyahu said, dismissing accusations that Israel is committing genocide — levelled by human rights groups Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, as well as Israel’s own B’Tselem — as part of a “global campaign of lies.”

He made vague reference to addressing two major criticisms from allies — Israel’s refusal to allow journalists into the Gaza Strip and its blockade on food.

The prime minister said he had directed the military to “bring in more foreign journalists” — but whether they would be embedded with Israeli troops and thus not independent, he did not say.

Mr Netanyahu also said that he wanted to increase the number of aid distribution sites in the territory — though hundreds of people have been shot dead while approaching the existing sites run by US mercenary group the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, with Medecins Sans Frontieres accusing Israel last week of “orchestrated killing” of people seeking food aid.

In Tel Aviv, relatives of hostages still held by Hamas in Gaza called for a general strike to prevent the government carrying out its plan to occupy Gaza City.

On Saturday, a crowd of thousands rallied in the Israeli capital demanding a ceasefire and more prisoner exchanges to bring the hostages home.

At the UN, countries urged Israel not to proceed with its plan.

French representative Jay Dharmadhikari said a renewed Israeli offensive would mean “further violations of international law of an extreme severity.

“The images of children dying of hunger or civilians being targeted as they tried to find food are unbearable,” he added.

Though other countries joined France in condemning Israel’s plans, the security council did not debate a resolution, which was deemed pointless as it would be vetoed by the United States.