83 Children Have Died from Malnutrition and Starvation Amid Israeli-Made Famine: Ministry

At least 9 Palestinians have died of starvation in the past 24 hours across the Gaza Strip, bringing the total number of deaths from hunger and malnutrition to 122, including 83 children, as Israel continues to block humanitarian aid from entering the enclave.

According to the Palestinian Health Ministry on Friday, 9 people died from starvation in the past 24 hours.

It added a total of 122 people, including 83 children, have died due to hunger and malnutrition since the start of the genocide in October 2023.

“This is a silent massacre. The Ministry of Health holds the Israeli occupation and the international community fully responsible. We urgently call for the immediate opening of all crossings to allow the entry of food and medicine,” it added.

Over 100 humanitarian organizations, including Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), and Oxfam, warned on Wednesday that “mass starvation” is spreading across Gaza, with their colleagues in the enclave wasting away from hunger as Israel continues to block the entry of aid for more than four months.

“Doctors report record rates of acute malnutrition, especially among children and older people,” they said in a statement.

“Illnesses like acute watery diarrhoea are spreading, markets are empty, waste is piling up, and adults are collapsing on the streets from hunger and dehydration.”

“Distributions in Gaza average just 28 trucks a day, far from enough for over two million people, many of whom have gone weeks without assistance,” they said.

“The UN-led humanitarian system has not failed, it has been prevented from functioning.”

The NGOs said governments must stop waiting for permission to act.