Sign in Subscribe
Arab-Israeli conflicts

Israeli Siege of Gaza Continues to Claim Lives, Especially Among Children

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The ongoing Israeli siege of Gaza has resulted in the deaths of at least 66 children due to malnutrition, according to officials in the Palestinian enclave, as restrictions continue to block essential supplies like milk, nutritional supplements, and food aid. The siege has led to a sharp rise in child malnutrition, with UNICEF warning of a 150% spike in acute malnutrition cases among children between six months and five years old in May compared to February. The situation in Gaza has been described as a 'war crime' by the Gaza's Government Media Office, which has accused Israel of deliberately using hunger as a weapon against civilians.

Key Takeaways:

  • At least 66 children have died due to malnutrition in the Palestinian enclave of Gaza, according to officials.
  • The UN agency, UNICEF, has reported a sharp rise in child malnutrition in Gaza, with a 150% spike in acute malnutrition cases among children between six months and five years old in May compared to February.
  • Between January and May, over 16,700 children were treated for malnutrition, an average of 112 children each day, according to UNICEF's Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Edouard Beigbeder.
  • Israeli airstrikes have intensified, killing at least 60 Palestinians on Saturday alone, including 20 children in the Tuffah neighbourhood of Gaza City.
  • A local resident, Mahmoud al-Nakhala, described how his family was ordered to evacuate their home just before an airstrike destroyed the entire block.
  • Gazan officials say Israeli forces have killed over 550 people at or near GHF distribution points since the organisation began operations on May 19.
  • Aid groups have condemned the militarisation of humanitarian aid, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling the GHF's approach 'unsafe' and saying it is 'killing people.'

Statistics:

  • At least 66 children have died due to malnutrition in Gaza.
  • Between January and May, over 16,700 children were treated for malnutrition.
  • 112 children were treated for malnutrition on average each day between January and May.
  • A 150% spike in acute malnutrition cases among children between six months and five years old was reported in May compared to February.
  • Over 5,119 children were treated for acute malnutrition in May alone.
  • 20 children were killed in the Tuffah neighbourhood of Gaza City on Saturday.
  • At least 60 Palestinians were killed on Saturday alone, including many children.
  • 550 people have been killed by Israeli forces at or near GHF distribution points since the organisation began operations on May 19.

Sources:

  • Gaza's Government Media Office
  • UNICEF
  • Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF's Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa
  • Mahmoud al-Nakhala, local resident
  • Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera correspondent
  • Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding
  • Haaretz, Israeli newspaper
  • UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres

Read more