At least 66 children have died from malnutrition in the Gaza Strip during the ongoing war, according to a statement from Gaza’s Government Media Office. The dire update came on Saturday, highlighting a catastrophic humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s continued siege on the besieged territory, now in its ninth month of conflict.
The statement strongly condemns what it described as a “deliberate policy of starvation” by Israeli forces, which it claims is being used as a weapon of war to exterminate civilians. The office said that the Israeli blockade has severely restricted the entry of vital humanitarian supplies, including baby formula, milk, nutritional supplements, and food aid, contributing to the deaths of dozens of children.
Malnutrition Crisis: Gaza’s Children Are Dying of Hunger
According to Palestinian health officials and humanitarian agencies on the ground, children are bearing the brunt of the war. Many of the 66 children who died were under the age of five, suffering from severe acute malnutrition and related complications that could have been easily prevented with timely access to basic nutrition and medical support.
The Government Media Office called the deaths part of an “ongoing crime against childhood” in the Gaza Strip. It accused Israel of violating international humanitarian law and stated:
“This blockade, starvation, and denial of aid constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. This is a deliberate policy to exterminate our people.”
In addition to Israel, the statement held the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany partly responsible, describing them as complicit in the humanitarian catastrophe by supporting Israeli military actions and policies. The office called on the United Nations and the international community to urgently intervene and open all border crossings into Gaza, particularly for medical and nutritional aid for children and infants.
UNICEF: Alarming Surge in Malnourished Children
UNICEF has issued repeated warnings about the escalating crisis. On Friday, the organization reported that more than 16,700 children had been treated for malnutrition in Gaza between January and May 2025—an average of 112 children per day.
In May alone, 5,119 children aged between six months and five years were admitted for treatment of acute malnutrition, marking a nearly 50% increase from April’s 3,444 admissions, and a 150% increase from February, when a temporary ceasefire allowed more aid into the enclave.
“Every one of these malnutrition cases is preventable,” said Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa.
“Food, clean water, and basic nutrition treatments are being blocked. These are man-made decisions costing children their lives.”
Beigbeder further stressed the need for unhindered humanitarian access, urging Israel to immediately permit large-scale deliveries of aid through all border crossings.
Premature Babies and Infants at Risk: Hospitals Are Collapsing
The crisis has extended into hospitals. According to Associated Press, dozens of premature and newborn babies are starving, including at least 10 babies receiving emergency care at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. Medical staff report that specialized formula and intravenous nutrition have nearly run out.
“The number of infant deaths is rising. We are watching babies die simply because we can’t feed them,” said a pediatrician from Nasser Hospital, speaking to AP anonymously due to fear of retaliation.
Currently, only 17 of Gaza’s 36 hospitals remain even partially functional. The facilities are overwhelmed, with insufficient fuel, medical supplies, and food. Clean water is almost nonexistent in many hospitals, leading to a rise in diarrheal diseases, skin infections, and respiratory conditions, which worsen malnutrition.
Israeli Strikes Kill at Least 60, Including 20 in Gaza City
While the humanitarian disaster grows, Israeli forces have intensified attacks across northern Gaza, killing at least 60 Palestinians on Saturday, including 20 in Gaza City’s Tuffah neighbourhood alone.
Eyewitnesses described how two consecutive airstrikes flattened several residential buildings. Among the victims were nine children from the al-Nakhalah family.
“We were sitting peacefully when someone called from a private number, telling us to evacuate the block,” said Mahmoud al-Nakhala, a survivor.
“But there was no time. The entire block was destroyed within minutes. People are dying, and the world is silent.”
13 More Killed in Tents, GHF Sites Labeled “Killing Fields”
Separate airstrikes hit displacement tents in Gaza City, killing at least 13 more people, including children. Another person was shot near an aid distribution point run by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in southern Rafah.
Gaza officials say that more than 550 people have been killed near or at GHF-operated food aid sites since May 19, when the U.S.-backed initiative began operations.
“Deliberate Shootings of Aid Seekers” at GHF Sites
Journalists and humanitarian observers on the ground report widespread fear of visiting GHF distribution centers, which have become highly militarized and dangerous. According to Al Jazeera’s Hani Mahmoud, many families now avoid these sites altogether despite food shortages:
“People know that going to get food might cost them their lives. But staying away means their children will go to bed hungry—or not wake up.”
A report from Haaretz, an Israeli newspaper, claimed that some Israeli soldiers were ordered to shoot unarmed civilians at GHF sites. One soldier allegedly called the area a “killing field.” The Israeli military has denied these claims.
Aid Groups and UN Officials Condemn the GHF Model
UN Secretary-General António Guterres said Friday that the GHF’s operations are “inherently unsafe and killing people”, violating core humanitarian principles of independence, neutrality, and safety.
Chris Doyle, Director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, called GHF’s system “an abomination”:
“This reverses everything humanitarian aid stands for. Families walk for miles to reach these places, and then worry if they’ll make it back alive.”
He called on the international community to dismantle the GHF model and reestablish neutral, protected, and impartial aid systems.
International Law and War Crime Accusations
Multiple international organizations now accuse Israel of breaching international humanitarian law:
- UN Human Rights Office stated that the use of starvation as a method of warfare is a war crime, adding that the weaponization of food in Gaza is “a serious violation” of the Geneva Conventions.
- Human Rights Watch and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have issued similar accusations, urging Israel to lift its blockade and permit unrestricted humanitarian access.
- European officials, including Spain’s Prime Minister, have called for immediate investigations into the deaths of aid seekers and children.
Summary: A Man-Made Tragedy
- 66 children have died from hunger-related causes in Gaza since the war began.
- Over 16,000 children have been treated for malnutrition in 2025 so far.
- Premature babies, displaced families, and hospitals are running out of food and medical resources.
- Aid centers have become sites of mass death, with over 550 Palestinians killed while trying to get food.
- Global outrage is growing, with urgent calls for Israel to open crossings and end the siege.
What the World Must Do Now
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has escalated into a public health emergency and a humanitarian catastrophe. With tens of thousands of children at risk, international agencies, NGOs, and concerned governments must:
- Demand unhindered humanitarian access into Gaza
- Pressure Israel to lift or ease the blockade
- Restore neutral aid distribution systems
- Hold accountable those responsible for violations of international law
Time is running out for thousands of children.
The Information is Collected from AL Jazeera and Yahoo.
