Gaza City, Gaza Strip — Al-Shifa hospital’s director reported on Tuesday that within a mere three days, 21 children have succumbed to malnutrition across the region, highlighting a deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Mohammed Abu Salmiya expressed grave concerns, stating that hospitals, including Al-Shifa, Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, and Nasser Hospital, are facing overwhelming numbers of malnutrition cases, with new patients arriving constantly.
The warnings from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday further underscored the urgency of the situation. He cautioned that the essential lifelines for the people of Gaza are deteriorating, with increasing reports of both children and adults showing alarming signs of malnutrition. “We are moving toward disturbing figures of starvation-related deaths among the population,” Abu Salmiya added, reflecting his fears that the worst is yet to come.
Reports from the U.N. human rights office indicate that many arriving at hospitals are experiencing severe fatigue and exhaustion due to a lack of food. Hospital staff have reported that individuals are collapsing in the streets, and many malnutrition-related deaths might go unrecorded. This distressing trend has been attributed to what the U.N. describes as severe interference with humanitarian aid by Israeli authorities.
Photographic evidence from Gaza has depicted the profound impact of malnutrition, showcasing children and infants in critical condition, prompting concern from the international community. Medical professionals have linked symptoms of severe malnutrition to weight loss, poor circulation, and extreme lethargy, causing alarm among health officials.
Hamas-run Gaza’s health spokesperson, Khalil al-Deqran, reported that the already overstretched hospitals are unable to manage the rising influx of hunger-related cases due to a crippling shortage of food and medical supplies. He noted that around 600,000 individuals exhibit signs of malnutrition, including dehydration and anemia, among them about 60,000 pregnant women.
The situation has worsened since a complete blockade was imposed by Israel on March 2, following failed negotiations to extend a ceasefire. Though some aid was allowed to cross into Gaza in late May, the quantity remains drastically insufficient to meet the desperate needs of over two million residents, who have not faced such severe shortages since the onset of the current conflict.
The civil defense agency in Gaza reported that three infants died from malnutrition within the past week, amplifying calls for urgent action. Onlookers described the severe health crisis their communities are enduring, especially as food supplies dwindle.
In an effort to address the humanitarian disaster, 25 countries, including the U.S., Canada, and several European nations, released a joint statement urging an immediate end to hostilities and calling for the unrestricted flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza. They criticized the Israeli government’s limited provisions for aid, suggesting that many civilians, particularly children, were suffering as a result of prolonged conflict and unnecessary restrictions.
The U.N. has reported that over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed while attempting to access food aid since the introduction of a controversial humanitarian initiative on May 26. Despite claims of success, this program has faced criticism for allegedly prioritizing military objectives over humanitarian needs, raising ethical concerns.
The support and effectiveness of the humanitarian groups operating in Gaza remain hotly contested, with fears that aid initiatives may forfeit their moral integrity under military oversight. As the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, many people in and outside the region are left wondering whether the necessary support will arrive in time to alleviate the suffering.