Malnutrition Deaths Surge in Gaza Amid Ongoing Conflict

With the death toll from malnutrition now at 154, including 89 children, the humanitarian crisis worsens amid ongoing military operations and allegations of inadequate aid.

Seven more individuals in Gaza have succumbed to malnutrition over the past day, as reported by the health ministry governed by Hamas. The cumulative death toll linked to malnutrition since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in 2023 has now reached 154, with 89 of those being children. Global food security experts associated with the United Nations have indicated that worst-case famine scenarios are currently materializing in the region.

While Israel asserts that it is not hindering aid deliveries into Gaza, this claim is met with skepticism from its European allies and various UN agencies operating within the territory. In light of the escalating situation, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to visit Israel on Thursday for discussions regarding the humanitarian crisis.

In other distressing news, hospital sources in Gaza have reported that six Palestinians were killed near an aid distribution center managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) in Rafah during an attempt to gain access prior to its opening. Witness accounts suggest Israeli armored units responded with overwhelming force during the crowding, however, the GHF has denied that any fatalities occurred at or near its facilities.

The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) claims that warning shots were fired to disperse a gathering viewed as a threat, asserting discrepancies between their information and reported casualty numbers. Charges of daily casualties near GHF sites have emerged consistently, with numerous accounts alleging assaults by Israeli military personnel on individuals seeking aid.

On Wednesday, the Hamas health ministry reported that in just a 24-hour period, 103 individuals were killed, with 60 fatalities occurring while they sought aid. Post-March, Israel instituted a total blockade on aid sent to Gaza, which was briefly relaxed after two months due to looming famine warnings from the international community.

The intensity of food, medicine, and fuel shortages has escalated since the resumption of military operations against Hamas in response to the latter's attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which left around 1,200 dead and led to 251 kidnappings. The Hamas health authorities claim total fatalities in Gaza due to Israeli military action have reached 60,138.

In a related geopolitical development, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed his outrage over British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's intention to recognize a Palestinian state by September unless certain conditions are met, including a ceasefire. Starmer's move has drawn fire from various parties, including those asserting that it undermines the fight against terrorism. Emily Damari, a British-Israeli former hostage of Hamas, has publicly criticized Starmer's decisions, suggesting they could embolden terrorist acts.