The humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip deepened on Monday as medical sources confirmed that 14 people, including two children, died of famine and malnutrition in the past 24 hours.

The latest fatalities bring the total number of deaths caused by famine and malnutrition to 147 since the outbreak of the food crisis in March, with 88 of the victims being children.

Crossings Closure Triggers Catastrophic Famine

The famine crisis intensified after Israel sealed all crossings with Gaza on March 2, 2025, blocking the entry of food, medical supplies, and humanitarian assistance. The closure has driven Gaza into the worst humanitarian disaster in its history, overlapping with the ongoing genocidal military campaign that began on October 7, 2023.

International Agencies Sound Alarm

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) warned that malnutrition among children under five has doubled between March and June. The agency attributed the surge to the continued blockade and the near-total halt of aid deliveries.

The World Health Organization (WHO) described the situation as “alarming,” stating that nearly one in five children under five in Gaza City suffers from acute malnutrition. WHO stressed that the deliberate delays in humanitarian aid have cost many lives.

Tom Fletcher, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, said, “One in three people in Gaza has not eaten for days,” urging immediate aid access and the establishment of a permanent ceasefire.

The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) reiterated that “all citizens in the Gaza Strip are hungry, but children are suffering the most.” The agency reported that instead of going to school, many children now risk their lives searching for food.

Casualties Continue to Rise Amid War and Famine

Since the start of the Israeli assault on October 7, 2023, at least 59,821 civilians have been killed in Gaza, the majority of them women and children, with 144,851 others injured. Authorities warn that the death toll remains incomplete, as many victims are still under rubble or in areas unreachable by rescue teams.

Humanitarian agencies have called for an immediate lifting of the blockade, the unhindered entry of food and medical supplies, and a permanent ceasefire to prevent further mass starvation and loss of life. (ILKHA)