An ongoing, severe heatwave is affecting more than two million people living in a dire situation in the Gaza Strip, and has caused multiple fatalities, including children.

UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini wrote in a social media post on Friday that "at least two children died due to the heat."

He added, "What more to endure: death, hunger, disease, displacement, and now living in greenhouse-like structures under scorching heat."

Lazzarini, reiterating his call for a ceasefire wrote, "We cannot afford on top of this misery, a major military operation to go ahead."

Health authorities in the besieged enclave say more than 34,000 people have been killed in the six months since the devastating conflict began.

Several media reports say temperatures have hovered around 30 degrees Celsius in recent days, well above normal for this time of the year.