Famine claims 10 more lives in Israel-blockaded Gaza

ANKARA

At least 10 more Palestinians, including three children, died from malnutrition caused by a choking Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip, the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza said Saturday.

In a statement, the ministry said that the new fatalities from malnourishment brought the death toll since October 2023 to 332, including 124 children.

Famine has been confirmed in the Gaza Governorate of the Gaza Strip, and is projected to expand to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis governorates by the end of September, according to global hunger monitor Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC).

Since IPC declared famine in Gaza, 54 people have starved to death, including nine children, the ministry added.

After 22 months of relentless conflict, the IPC said, over half a million people in the Gaza Strip are facing starvation, destitution, and death. Another 1.07 million people – over half the population – are facing emergency levels of acute food insecurity.

Israel has killed more than 63,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October 2023. The military campaign has devastated the enclave, which is facing famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.