Child perishes due to hunger in Gaza as Israel restricts food delivery
In the Gaza Strip, a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented severity is unfolding. Dr. Khalil Al-Daqran, spokesman for al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, has declared that the region is currently experiencing the worst phase of famine, reaching catastrophic levels.
The root cause of this crisis is a combination of factors, primarily the Israeli blockade and military actions that have deliberately restricted food, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid into the territory. Since a total siege was imposed on Gaza on March 2, 2025, severe restrictions have cut off essential goods, including specialized baby formula and basic healthcare, leading to life-threatening conditions like severe malnutrition and dehydration.
Israeli airstrikes since 2023 have targeted critical Gaza food infrastructure, such as bakeries, flour mills, agricultural land, fishing ports, and warehouses. Over half of Gaza's bakeries have been destroyed or severely damaged, and agricultural damage has reached more than two-thirds of croplands, making food production and supply nearly impossible within the territory.
The blockade also prevents the entry of humanitarian aid at sufficient scale and timely pace, causing a trickle of aid that is far below what is needed. This has resulted in tens of thousands of children and women requiring urgent nutritional treatment. Infant deaths due to "severe hunger and malnutrition" have notably increased, with reported cases rising in recent months.
The consequences are devastating. Between October 2023 and mid-2025, at least 66 children have died from malnutrition-related conditions, not counting deaths from exacerbated preventable diseases linked to weakened immune systems. Cases like that of a four-month-old infant who died of Marasmus (severe protein-energy malnutrition) and dehydration highlight the dire lack of specialized food and medical supplies.
Amnesty International and the United Nations have condemned these conditions as deliberate and called for an immediate lifting of restrictions to allow safe and dignified humanitarian access. The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, stated that food is running out in Gaza, and starvation rates among children have reached their highest levels in June.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is receiving "deeply troubling reports of malnourished children and adults being admitted to hospitals with little resources available to treat them properly." World Central Kitchen confirmed that its Gaza teams have run out of ingredients to cook warm meals, and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights reported that team members in Gaza are experiencing extreme emaciation due to the lack of food.
Thousands of people in Gaza risk their lives every day to find something to eat. Razan Abu Zaher, a four-year-old girl, died on Sunday due to complications from hunger and malnutrition in a hospital in central Gaza. She had been in the hospital for 12 days before her death. Nearly 800 Palestinians were killed while trying to access aid in Gaza between late May and July 7, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Humanitarian Rights.
The scarcity of food in Gaza since March has sent a rapidly growing number of people to already overwhelmed hospitals. Most of these deaths occurred since Israeli authorities imposed a blockade at the beginning of March, according to the World Health Organization. Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya reported that a significant number of civilians and medical staff are arriving at Al-Shifa Hospital in a state of fainting or collapse due to severe malnutrition.
In summary, the food crisis in Gaza is a result of a combination of Israeli blockade and siege restricting food, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid, destruction of Gaza’s food production and supply infrastructure by airstrikes, severe shortages of specialized nutrition products required for vulnerable populations like infants, and insufficient humanitarian assistance reaching the population amid ongoing conflict conditions. These factors have produced widespread malnutrition, starvation, and death, with children being the most severely affected group.
- The world is witnessing an unparalleled humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
- Dr. Khalil Al-Daqran, a spokesman for al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, has declared the region is experiencing the worst phase of famine, reaching catastrophic levels.
- The Israeli blockade and military actions are the primary cause of this crisis, intentionally restricting food, medical supplies, and humanitarian aid.
- Since the total siege was imposed on Gaza on March 2, 2025, essential goods like specialized baby formula and basic healthcare have been cut off, leading to life-threatening conditions.
- Israeli airstrikes since 2023 have targeted critical Gaza food infrastructure, such as bakeries, flour mills, agricultural land, fishing ports, and warehouses.
- Over half of Gaza's bakeries have been destroyed or severely damaged, and agricultural damage has reached more than two-thirds of croplands.
- The blockade also prevents the entry of humanitarian aid at sufficient scale and timely pace, causing a severe shortage.
- This has resulted in tens of thousands of children and women requiring urgent nutritional treatment.
- Infant deaths due to severe hunger and malnutrition have increased, with reported cases rising in recent months.
- The consequences are devastating, with at least 66 children dying from malnutrition-related conditions between October 2023 and mid-2025.
- Amnesty International and the United Nations have condemned these conditions as deliberate and called for an immediate lifting of restrictions.
- The UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, Tom Fletcher, stated that food is running out in Gaza, and starvation rates among children have reached their highest levels in June.
- The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs is receiving reports of malnourished children and adults being admitted to hospitals with little resources available for treatment.
- World Central Kitchen confirmed that its Gaza teams have run out of ingredients to cook warm meals.
- The Palestinian Center for Human Rights reported that team members in Gaza are experiencing extreme emaciation due to the lack of food.
- Thousands of people in Gaza risk their lives every day to find something to eat.
- Razan Abu Zaher, a four-year-old girl, died on Sunday due to complications from hunger and malnutrition in a hospital in central Gaza.
- Nearly 800 Palestinians were killed while trying to access aid in Gaza between late May and July 7, according to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Humanitarian Rights.
- The scarcity of food in Gaza since March has sent a rapidly growing number of people to already overwhelmed hospitals.
- Most of these deaths occurred since Israeli authorities imposed a blockade at the beginning of March, according to the World Health Organization.
- Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya reported that a significant number of civilians and medical staff are arriving at Al-Shifa Hospital in a state of fainting or collapse due to severe malnutrition.
- The Middle East is not only facing a food crisis but also witnessing a rise in chronic diseases like chronic kidney disease, COPD, type-2 diabetes, cancer, and respiratory conditions.
- Science and medical professionals are working tirelessly to develop new therapies and treatments for these conditions, improving health and wellness in the workplace and beyond.
- Disorders like Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune disorders, and neurological disorders are gaining increasing attention in the field of medical science.
- Climate change is another concern, with renewable energy solutions like solar and wind power being promoted as a means to reduce carbon emissions and mitigate its effects.
- In the manufacturing industry, there is a growing focus on workplace-wellness and mental-health, with programs aimed at reducing stress and promoting fitness and exercise.
- In addition to health concerns, the Middle East is also addressing issues like digital health, sexual health, aging, and skin care, taking a holistic approach to health and wellness.
