Gaza: The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) on Sunday accused Israeli authorities of utilizing starvation as a weapon of war against Gaza's civilian population. In a statement on X, UNRWA reported that among the affected are 1 million children, highlighting the severe humanitarian crisis in the region.
According to Anadolu Agency, UNRWA renewed its urgent call for Israel to lift its ongoing siege, urging the allowance of food and medicines into Gaza. Despite international legal obligations to protect civilians and facilitate aid delivery, Israel has continued its total siege since March 2. This includes bombing convoys, blocking border crossings, and targeting aid distribution points, actions widely condemned as collective punishment and potential war crimes.
UN Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini emphasized that the refugee agency has not been able to deliver food into Gaza since March 2. Lazzarini stated, "Food is available only a few kilometers away. UNRWA alone has enough stock available outside of Gaza for the entire population for the next 3 months."
According to Gaza's Health Ministry, dozens of children have already died from starvation and dehydration, with hundreds of thousands more at risk due to widespread food insecurity and the collapse of healthcare services. On Sunday, the Health Ministry reported that 86 Palestinians, including 76 children, have died from hunger and malnutrition since the start of the Israeli war, describing the situation as "a silent massacre."
The ministry reported 18 deaths from hunger in the last 24 hours alone, attributing responsibility to both Israel and the international community for the escalating humanitarian disaster. They called for the immediate opening of border crossings to allow food and medicine into the besieged territory.
Palestinian official sources reported that on Saturday alone, Israeli strikes resulted in the deaths of at least 136 Palestinians, including 38 people waiting for aid and three children who succumbed to severe malnutrition. Since October 2023, Israel has killed nearly 59,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, in Gaza. The ongoing bombing has devastated the enclave, almost collapsed the health system, and created famine-like conditions.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in the enclave.