Desperation deepens in Gaza as nine more Palestinians, including children, have died from starvation in just 24 hours, amid Israel’s ongoing blockade that has pushed the enclave to the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe.
This brings the total number of starvation deaths to 122 since Israel’s war on Gaza began in October 2023, including at least 83 children.
The Health Ministry urgently demanded an immediate end to the famine, the opening of all crossings, and the entry of infant formula along with 500 aid trucks and 50 fuel trucks daily.
At least nine more people have died from starvation and malnutrition in Gaza over the past 24 hours, according to the territory’s health ministry.
The latest figures bring the total number of starvation-related deaths to 122, including 83 children.
The president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Mirjana Spoljaric, said there is “no excuse for what is happening in Gaza,” citing extreme levels of human suffering and the erosion of human dignity.
“The scale of human suffering and the stripping of human dignity have long exceeded every acceptable standard , both legal and moral,” Spoljaric said.
She added that more than 350 ICRC staff remain in Gaza, many of whom are struggling to access sufficient food and clean water.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump appeared on Friday to abandon Gaza ceasefire negotiations with Hamas, both saying it had become clear that the Hamas did not want a deal.
Netanyahu said Israel was now mulling “alternative” options to achieve its goals of bringing its hostages home from Gaza and ending Hamas rule in the enclave, where starvation is spreading and most of the population is homeless.
Trump said he believed Hamas leaders would now be “hunted down”, telling reporters: “Hamas really didn’t want to make a deal. I think they want to die.
And it’s very bad. And it got to be to a point where you’re going to have to finish the job.”
