Gaza city: Six more Palestinians, including two children, succumbed to starvation in the Gaza Strip over the last 24 hours amid an ongoing Israeli siege, the Health Ministry announced on Sunday.

According to Anadolu Agency, hospitals in Gaza reported the new deaths, attributing them to famine and malnutrition. The latest fatalities bring the total death toll from starvation in Gaza to 133 since October 2023, with 87 of them being children. The Health Ministry highlighted that these numbers underscore the severe impact of the prolonged Israeli blockade and the restricted access to food and aid.

The blockade on Gaza has been in effect for 18 years, with a complete shutdown of crossings since March 2, preventing aid convoys from entering despite international pleas to reopen them. The Israeli army has continued its offensive on Gaza since October 7, 2023, resulting in the deaths of more than 59,700 Palestinians, predominantly women and children. The ongoing conflict has devastated the region and exacerbated food shortages.

In 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. Additionally, Israel is currently facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the enclave.