Severe Malnutrition Claims Lives in Gaza Amid Ongoing Blockade
At least 147 people, including 88 children, have died from hunger and malnutrition in the Gaza Strip since the onset of Israeli attacks in October 2023, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza. These fatalities highlight the growing humanitarian crisis as a result of an ongoing blockade that has restricted access to food, medicine, and essential aid, reports 24brussels.
Operating hospitals report a continuous influx of patients—children, the elderly, and pregnant women—exhibiting symptoms of acute malnutrition, fatigue, and exhaustion. Medical professionals describe a healthcare system in total collapse, unable to meet patient needs due to severe shortages of supplies and personnel.
One particularly tragic case is that of Mohammed Ibrahim Adas, an infant who died earlier this week at Al-Shifa Hospital from severe malnutrition exacerbated by a lack of infant formula. His death underscores the toll of the blockade, which has persisted for over 150 days, during which humanitarian convoys have been repeatedly denied entry.
In the past 24 hours alone, 14 more people have died from hunger. The total death toll from famine has now reached 147, including 88 children. This is not a natural disaster. This is enforced starvation. pic.twitter.com/BTvzv2uKil
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) July 28, 2025
The World Health Organization (WHO) has deemed the nutritional crisis in Gaza “alarming.” In its latest update, the agency reported 63 deaths from hunger in July alone, including 24 children younger than five. Currently, over 5,000 children have been hospitalized for malnutrition, with at least 18% suffering from severe acute malnutrition, a condition that poses significant health risks without immediate medical intervention.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has warned that the rates of child malnutrition have doubled between March and June, directly correlating with the continued Israeli blockade that limits the flow of essential goods into the territory.
Since border crossings were shut in early March, humanitarian organizations report that aid deliveries have been sporadic, insufficient, and at times entirely obstructed. This situation has led to what many are describing as a man-made famine, with conditions worsening daily.
International pressure is mounting for an immediate cessation of the blockade. Numerous human rights organizations have accused Israeli authorities of utilizing starvation as a weapon of war, calling for investigations into potential violations of international law and collective punishment.
Health experts caution that the crisis is inflicting not only physical damage but also psychological trauma. Aid organizations have noted an increase in cases of trauma and anxiety among children, emphasizing long-term developmental risks if access to adequate nutrition and care is not reinstated promptly.
Despite facing extreme limitations, medical workers in Gaza continue to operate as critical lifelines for the vulnerable population, often improvising with dwindling resources and making impossible choices.
The WHO concluded its latest appeal with a dire warning: “Without urgent intervention, more lives will be lost — and the youngest will pay the heaviest price.”
