The Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza reported on Tuesday that 185 people, including 12 children, died of starvation in August—marking the highest monthly toll since Israel’s war on the enclave began nearly two years ago.
Of those deaths, 70 occurred after the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system officially designated Gaza a famine zone last month.
Health officials said the humanitarian crisis is worsening rapidly, with over 43,000 children under five suffering from malnutrition, along with 55,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women. Alarmingly, 67 percent of pregnant women in Gaza are now anaemic, the highest rate documented in years.
The ministry warned of catastrophic consequences if immediate humanitarian aid—particularly food and medical supplies—is not delivered, citing a sharp rise in hunger-related deaths.
Since October 2023, Israel’s military campaign has killed more than 63,500 Palestinians in Gaza. The war, combined with a continuing Israeli blockade, has devastated the enclave’s infrastructure and cut off access to basic necessities, driving the population toward famine.
In November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.
Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) over its conduct in the ongoing war.
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