Gaza: More than 100 children have succumbed to malnutrition and hunger in the besieged Gaza Strip amidst an ongoing Israeli blockade, according to UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini. In a recent statement, Lazzarini highlighted the severe humanitarian crisis impacting the enclave, noting that the death toll from starvation now includes 106 children.

According to Anadolu Agency, the dire situation in Gaza has been exacerbated by the Israeli military offensive that began in October 2023, resulting in over 40,000 children being killed or injured by airstrikes and shelling. The crisis has left at least 17,000 children unaccompanied and separated, while one million remain deeply traumatized and out of school.

The Health Ministry in Gaza reported an additional eight deaths, including three children, in the past 24 hours due to famine and malnutrition. This has brought the total number of deaths from starvation to 235 as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate.

Since March 2, Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza's crossings, severely limiting humanitarian aid access and causing widespread famine. Despite numerous aid trucks stranded at the borders, the limited supplies allowed through have been insufficient to meet the needs of the population. Gaza requires approximately 600 aid trucks and 50 fuel trucks daily to address its basic humanitarian needs.

The ongoing Israeli military campaign has resulted in the deaths of over 61,700 Palestinians, predominantly women and children. The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, citing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Moreover, Israel is also facing a genocide case at the International Court of Justice concerning its actions in the enclave.