Starvation of Civilians in Gaza: A Deliberate Policy

In July, a heartbreaking image of 18-month-old Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq, a Palestinian child severely malnourished and emaciated, was published in major news outlets, sparking outrage and concern about the impact of Israel's use of starvation as a weapon of war. Humanitarian workers and medical professionals have reported that restrictions on aid and the systematic assault on Gaza's health care infrastructure are exacerbating the suffering of children with disabilities, like Muhammad. In mid-August, the author joined the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Geneva, where disability groups emphasized the need for governments to pressure Israeli authorities to allow unimpeded humanitarian access and protect people with disabilities in conflict zones.

Key Takeaways:

• Over 20,000 children in Gaza were hospitalized for acute malnourishment between April and mid-July, with 3,000 of them severely malnourished.
• Restrictions on aid and medical care are disproportionately affecting children with disabilities, who require special food and care.
• The Israeli government's policy of starvation is a war crime, which is having a devastating impact on the entire population, particularly children.
• Disability groups are pressuring governments to impose an arms embargo and targeted sanctions on Israel to stop the mass starvation policy.
• Examples of Palestinian children with disabilities thriving with adequate nutrition and health care, such as 6-year-old Fadi al-Zant and 16-year-old Osman Shahin, highlight the need for humanitarian access and protection.

Statistics:

• 18-month-old Muhammad Zakariya Ayyoub al-Matouq was severely malnourished and emaciated, with his bones protruding through his back.
• Between April and mid-July, more than 20,000 children in Gaza were hospitalized for acute malnourishment, with 3,000 of them severely malnourished.
• 1 in 5 children in Gaza are living with a disability, making them disproportionately vulnerable to the impacts of starvation and conflict.

Sources:

• Human Rights Watch
• United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities
• Disability groups and advocates