Gaza City: More than 2,700 Palestinian children have been diagnosed with acute malnutrition in Gaza due to a severe Israeli siege on the enclave, as reported by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA). The agency highlighted the escalating crisis, stating, "The crisis has reached unprecedented levels of despair as people continue to go hungry across Gaza."

According to Anadolu Agency, the situation has become dire, with over 2,700 children under the age of five diagnosed with acute malnutrition as of late May. The UNRWA noted that only one medical center in northern Gaza is partially operational, struggling with significant fuel shortages. The agency emphasized the urgent need for humanitarian access to be restored.

The Israeli army has rejected international calls for a ceasefire and maintained a harsh offensive against Gaza since October 2023, resulting in the deaths of nearly 55,000 Palestinians, the majority of whom are women and children. With Gaza's border crossings closed to humanitarian aid since early March, aid agencies have expressed concerns about a potential famine affecting Gaza's 2.4 million residents.

In a related development, last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.