Evening recap

Good evening Middle East Eye readers,

The death toll since the start of Israel's genocide in Gaza 22 months ago soared to at least 62,263 Palestinians on Friday, according to the health ministry in Gaza. On Friday alone, at least 71 Palestinians were killed. 

Here is what else you need to know:

• Saudi Arabia's foreign ministry on Friday sharply criticised Israel after the UN officially declared that a famine is taking place in Gaza
• US President Donald Trump on Friday appeared to give his backing for Israel's assault on Gaza City, claiming that it would be "safer" for the captives if Israel attacked the urban centre home to 1 million Palestinians
• Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp on Friday resigned after his government failed to agree on sanctions against Israel
• Israel is preparing to launch its ground assault on Gaza City in mid-September, according to hebrew media reports
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told former US Secretary of State Antony Blinken that he planned to be fighting in Gaza for decades, when he was warned about not crafting a so-called day after plan for governance of Gaza, according to a former US official