The humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza continues to deepen as the siege imposed by the Israeli occupation deprives civilians of the most basic necessities of life. In the latest tragedy, 13-year-old Atef Abu Khater died from acute malnutrition and dehydration in the northern city of Jabalia, which remains completely cut off from aid and medical services.
Medical sources confirmed that the child arrived at Kamal Adwan Hospital in a severely emaciated state and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. His death is one of dozens recorded among children in Gaza in recent weeks due to the worsening famine and collapse of the healthcare system.
According to healthcare professionals, Atef’s condition was a direct result of prolonged starvation, compounded by the lack of access to clean water, adequate shelter, and essential medical care — all consequences of the occupation’s ongoing blockade and deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure.
Photographs of the child’s lifeless body reveal the horrifying toll of hunger on Gaza’s youngest victims. His fragile frame, sunken eyes, and protruding bones bear witness to a systematic policy of starvation used as a weapon of war.
Jabalia and other areas in northern Gaza have witnessed a surge in deaths due to starvation, especially among children, the elderly, and vulnerable individuals. Famine has spread across large parts of the territory as the Israeli occupation continues to block humanitarian corridors and prevent the entry of food, fuel, and medicine.
Despite repeated international warnings, no meaningful intervention has been made to stop the use of starvation against civilians. Aid agencies have described the situation as catastrophic and unsustainable, with entire communities forced to rely on animal feed, contaminated water, or nothing at all.
The death of Atef Abu Khater is not an isolated incident, but part of a broader pattern that forms a chapter in the unfolding genocide in Gaza. The use of starvation as a tool against a civilian population is prohibited under international law and constitutes a war crime.
As the famine worsens and children continue to die in silence, the world’s failure to act has become a stain on the conscience of the international community.
