67 Children Dead, Over Half a Million at Risk as Gaza Blockade Hits 103 Days
At least 67 children have died of hunger in Gaza since October 2023 as Israel’s full blockade of the enclave reaches its 103rd day, according to a statement released Saturday by the Gaza Government Media Office.
The office warned that the death toll is likely to rise sharply, with over 650,000 children under the age of five now at risk of severe, life-threatening malnutrition. The statement blamed Israel’s continued blockade for denying access to essential food, medicine, and fuel, calling the situation “one of the most extreme forms of collective punishment in modern history.”
“Starvation is now killing what bombs have not,” the office said, adding that dozens more deaths had occurred in just the past three days due to Israel blocking flour, infant formula, and other critical supplies.
The office accused Israel of implementing a “deliberate policy of mass starvation,” claiming approximately 1.25 million people in Gaza are now experiencing catastrophic hunger. About 96 per cent of the enclave’s population—including over one million children—face acute food insecurity, it said.
It further held Israel and its international supporters morally and legally responsible, saying: “We are sounding the alarm: this is a mass death sentence unfolding before the eyes of the world. Immediate international intervention is not optional—it’s a matter of life or death.”
The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) also raised concerns on Saturday, pointing to worsening health conditions amid the ongoing siege.
“No soap, no clean water. Children in Gaza can’t be bathed properly because of the blockade,” UNRWA said. “Overcrowded shelters and extreme summer heat are compounding the crisis, raising the risk of disease outbreaks.”
UNRWA called for the urgent resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries, including hygiene products, and demanded an end to the blockade.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has continued its military campaign in Gaza, defying global calls for a ceasefire. Nearly 57,900 Palestinians—mostly women and children—have been killed in the ongoing assault, according to Gaza health officials.
The campaign has decimated the territory’s infrastructure, causing widespread displacement, hunger, and the rapid spread of disease.
In November, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity. Separately, Israel faces genocide charges at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its actions in Gaza.
