Two more Palestinian infants have died in Gaza due to extreme malnutrition and the continued lack of infant formula, as Israel’s siege and relentless assault on the besieged territory intensify an already catastrophic humanitarian crisis.

The infants passed away at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis and were laid to rest by their grieving families on Thursday evening. Their deaths mark a grim escalation in the suffering of Gaza’s youngest and most vulnerable under a blockade that has cut off access to essential food and medical supplies.

Five-month-old Nidal Shurrab succumbed to severe malnutrition, his uncle Mahmoud Shurrab confirmed. “He died because there was no milk,” he said. “There are many other children here who are barely surviving. We need the world to act—now.”

Ten-day-old Kinda Al-Hams also died of starvation and lack of medication. Her father, Mohammad Al-Hams, said his newborn daughter never had a chance. “She died in my arms. We couldn’t even get her basic medicine,” he said.

Medical professionals in Gaza have repeatedly warned of an unfolding health disaster, particularly for infants, as the Israeli-imposed siege continues to strangle the enclave. With baby formula and therapeutic milk virtually unavailable, pediatric wards are overwhelmed with cases of malnutrition and starvation.

Local health authorities report that at least 244 people have died from hunger or lack of medical care since the beginning of the blockade, most of them children and elderly civilians. The actual number is feared to be higher, as famine spreads rapidly across the Strip.

Since October 7, 2023, Israel has waged what Palestinian rights groups and numerous international observers describe as a genocidal campaign in Gaza. The offensive, marked by indiscriminate airstrikes, deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure, and a policy of starvation, has devastated the population.

More than 188,000 Palestinians have been killed or injured, the vast majority of them women and children. Over 11,000 remain missing beneath the rubble of destroyed neighborhoods, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced, forced to live in makeshift shelters with no access to food, clean water, or healthcare.

Despite repeated calls from humanitarian agencies and rulings from the International Court of Justice demanding an end to the siege, Israel has continued its military and economic blockade. Meanwhile, famine has taken hold in several areas of Gaza, claiming more civilian lives daily.

Palestinian families, health workers, and rights advocates are pleading with the international community for urgent intervention. “This is no longer just a war—it’s a deliberate eradication of life,” said a doctor at Nasser Hospital. “The world must act before Gaza becomes a graveyard for our children.” (ILKHA)