At least 57 Palestinians, many of them children and the elderly, have died from starvation since Israel’s blockade of Gaza began on October 7, 2023, according to the Government Media Office in Gaza.
The office warned that the death toll is expected to rise as food, medicine, and essential supplies remain blocked from entering the territory.
Saturday marked the 63rd consecutive day that all crossings into Gaza remained closed, leading to a critical shortage of food, infant formula, and medical supplies. A child reportedly died earlier that day at Al-Rantisi Children’s Hospital from malnutrition and dehydration, highlighting the ongoing humanitarian emergency.
Gaza’s media office accused Israel of deliberately using hunger as a weapon of war and condemned what it described as the international community’s silence in the face of these violations. It urged global humanitarian organizations to act immediately to reopen crossings and prevent further deaths.
The blockade and resulting famine are part of a broader crisis. Since the start of Israel’s military campaign in October 2023, over 52,000 Palestinians have been killed, the vast majority women and children, according to local authorities.
International legal bodies have taken steps in response to the situation. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants in November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for alleged war crimes. Simultaneously, Israel is the subject of an ongoing genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).