The war waged by the Israeli occupation against the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023 continues to claim civilian lives relentlessly, whether through direct killing by bombardment or through systematic blockade and starvation, one of the most harrowing manifestations of genocide in modern times.
In this context, the Gaza Ministry of Health announced on Thursday that the death toll from starvation caused by the siege imposed on the Strip has risen to 239, including 106 children, since the start of the war. This comes after four people died within the past 24 hours as a result of famine and malnutrition.
Since 2 March this year, the occupation has closed all crossings into Gaza, preventing the entry of any humanitarian aid. This has deepened the famine, despite aid trucks piling up at the borders, with only limited quantities allowed in, far below the minimum needed. Even the aid that is permitted to pass is subjected to systematic looting by armed groups, which, according to local authorities, operate under the protection of occupation forces.
Living conditions in Gaza have reached unprecedented levels of hunger and despair, with field data indicating that a third of the population has not eaten for days, while the Strip requires hundreds of trucks daily to avert catastrophe.
These policies constitute prohibited acts under international humanitarian law, as the use of starvation as a weapon of war and the targeting of civilians amount to genocide and crimes against humanity. This comes in addition to other violations committed by the occupation during the war, which have so far resulted in 61,722 deaths, 154,525 injuries, more than 9,000 missing persons, the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of civilians, and extensive destruction of infrastructure and homes.
The siege of Gaza and the deliberate starvation of its population, alongside systematic killing, reflect a calculated policy of genocide aimed at eradicating the foundations of life in the Strip, in flagrant defiance of all international norms and laws.
