GAZA – The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached devastating new heights, as local authorities warn that over 100,000 children under the age of two—40,000 of whom are infants—are at immediate risk of death due to Israel’s ongoing blockade and the lack of access to essential nutritional supplies.
At least five Palestinians, including two children, reportedly died from starvation within the last 24 hours, according to health officials in the besieged enclave.
Among the victims was five-month-old Zainab Abu Haleeb, whose mother had pleaded for months to be evacuated for medical care. Zainab, who weighed less than 2kg at the time of her death, suffered from acute malnutrition exacerbated by the closure of crossings into Gaza and the severe shortage of infant formula.
I gave birth to her during starvation,” her mother said through tears. “She needed formula. That’s all. If the borders had been open, she might still be alive.
The situation has drawn stark warnings from Gaza’s government media office, which on Saturday described the unfolding catastrophe as a “deliberate and foreseeable mass killing.” Officials cited the continued blockade and the lack of infant formula as central causes of the crisis, with some mothers forced to feed their infants water in the absence of milk.
Health experts have issued repeated alerts over the past weeks, calling for urgent delivery of infant formula, food supplements, and medical supplies. However, despite international appeals, aid remains insufficient.
Since the start of March, at least 127 Palestinians—more than 85 of them children—have died from starvation, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. Over 1,121 Palestinians have also been killed while attempting to access aid at distribution points managed under the Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF), an Israeli and US-backed initiative which has faced criticism for failing to meet basic humanitarian needs.
Another grieving parent, the father of Abed al-Salaam Abu Mohsen, described his son’s death after a 70-day hospital stay. Diagnosed with an enlarged liver, his condition could not be treated due to the lack of resources and the inability to leave Gaza for medical care.
“We contacted everyone. The World Health Organization, the media. No one answered,” the father said, mourning over his son’s body. “This is how our children die.”
Mothers across Gaza face similar anguish, with many unable to breastfeed due to their own malnourishment. The compounded effects of starvation, lack of formula, and inaccessible healthcare continue to devastate the population, particularly the most vulnerable.
Zainab’s mother issued a pointed message to the world: “You didn’t listen when she was alive. Why would you listen now? The media saw her. The world saw her. But no one responded.”
As the crisis deepens, humanitarian agencies continue to call for unfettered access to Gaza to prevent further loss of life. But for families like Zainab’s, those appeals may come too late.
