Gaza, on a single day: At least 15 Palestinians, including four children, starved to death; total malnutrition-related deaths now 101, according to Health Ministry. Eighty of these were kids.
The growing food catastrophe follows Israel’s months-long blockade on food, water, fuel, and humanitarian supplies into the enclave. Over 1,000 Palestinians have died attempting to get help, according to the UN, even if small assistance started coming in May through the U.S.-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
Among the children who passed away Tuesday were a six-week-old baby and a thirteen-year-old boy. Food and baby formula were unavailable or too expensive according to the families in both situations. Said a cousin, “The infant died of malnutrition.” “You can’t get milk anywhere; should you, it costs $100 a tub.”
UN Secretary-general Antonio Guterres said the situation in Gaza was a “horror show,” stressing mass displacement, escalating malnourishment, and the breakdown of humanitarian assistance delivery networks. Nearly 88% of Gaza, he stated, is now under military command or displacement orders.
Medical experts said hospitals are overburdened and unable to address hunger-related symptoms. Al-Aqsa Hospital reports that 600,000 malnourished people include 60,000 expectant women. Even doctors and aid personnel are passing out from hunger at work.
Calling the aid situation a “sadistic death trap,” UNRWA head Philippe Lazzarini said snipers often target civilians assembling for food. The Norwegian Refugee Council likewise said its personnel are starving since Israeli barriers have caused aid stocks in Egypt and elsewhere to be stalled.
Once a center for humanitarian aid, Deir el-Balah in central Gaza’s Israeli operations have now damaged main WHO facilities. Troops invaded a WHO staff residence, arresting four employees and demolishing goods.
Israel denies responsibility for the starvation, rejects allegations it targets civilians, and has dismissed UN casualty statistics as “exaggerated.” It demands military intervention concentrate on Hamas fighters.
Over 59,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have died in Israel’s war in Gaza since October 7 and more than 142,000 have been wounded.
Negotiations for a cease-fire are still deadlocked. Urging Arab and Muslim countries to sever relations with what it calls the “fascist occupation,” Hamas has accused Israel of “systematic genocide.”
“Thousands of trucks are stacking up at the Rafah border while we starve,” Hamas said.
“The silence of Arab leaders just empowers Netanyahu’s war crimes.”
