The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) says that “hunger is everywhere in Gaza” as Ramadan begins and reiterates calls for an “immediate ceasefire” during the fasting month.

Israeli forces prevented hundreds of Palestinians from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem on the eve of Ramadan, local media reports.

Ismail Haniyeh, the head of Hamas’s political bureau, blames Israel for failing to reach a ceasefire deal before Ramadan, saying: “We don’t want an agreement that doesn’t end the war on Gaza.”

At least 31,045 Palestinians have been killed and 72,654 injured in Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7. The revised death toll in Israel from Hamas’s October 7 attacks stands at 1,139, and dozens continue to be held captive.

The UK government has pledged 117 million pounds ($150m) to protect Muslim communities amid a surge in anti-Muslim attacks following the outbreak of Israel’s war on Gaza.

The funds will be used to bolster security at mosques, Muslim faith schools and other community centres across the country over the next four years.

“Anti-Muslim hatred has absolutely no place in our society,” Home Secretary James Cleverly said in a statement. “We will not let events in the Middle East be used as an excuse to justify abuse against British Muslims.”

Tell MAMA, a group monitoring hate crimes against the Muslim community, said last month that it had recorded 2,010 hate incidents in the four months since October 7. It was the largest recorded number of cases in a four-month period, the group said, and up from 600 incidents over the same period in 2022-2023, a rise of 335 percent.