Gaza Famine Intensifies: 217 Deaths from Malnutrition as Warnings of "Mass Famine" Grow

The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip announced an increase in the number of deaths due to starvation and malnutrition, now reaching 217 people, including 100 children. In a statement on Sunday, the ministry reported that the past 24 hours alone saw 5 new deaths, including two children, highlighting the escalating severity of the humanitarian crisis.

These deaths come amid continued military targeting of people waiting for aid. Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat reported receiving 3 dead and 3 wounded after Israeli forces targeted a gathering near an aid distribution point. The civil defense in the besieged Palestinian territory also announced that at least 37 people, including 30 waiting for aid, were killed by Israeli army fire yesterday.

The inhabitants of the Strip, numbering around 2.4 million, are facing a severe crisis in food, water, and healthcare due to tight restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid since the crossings were almost completely closed in early March. This situation has prompted repeated warnings from international relief agencies. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) warned of a doubling in malnutrition cases among children under five in Gaza between March and June, while the World Health Organization confirmed that nearly one in five children in Gaza City suffers from acute malnutrition.

About two weeks ago, more than 100 non-governmental organizations, including "Doctors Without Borders," "Amnesty International," and "Oxfam International," warned of the risk of a "mass famine" spreading in the war-torn Strip. These NGOs stated that "as a mass famine spreads in Gaza, our colleagues and the people we help are emaciated."

The war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, following an attack by Hamas. The subsequent Israeli military campaign has resulted in the deaths of more than 61,369 Palestinians, mostly civilians, according to data from the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, which the United Nations considers reliable.