Brutal ‘israeli’ Blockade Results in Starvation Fatalities Among Palestinian Youth in Gaza
Palestinian medical authorities have confirmed the deaths of at least two additional severely malnourished children in the Gaza Strip. The region has been suffering the effects of a prolonged 21-month Israeli conflict, characterized by allegations of genocidal actions and the use of starvation strategies by the Israeli regime.
Medical authorities in Gaza have reported on Tuesday the deaths of two children, Yousef al-Safadi from the northern region, and Abdul Hamid al-Ghalban from Khan Yunis in the south, attributing the tragic losses to starvation.
Pro-Palestinian advocates and human rights activists expressed profound regret over the recent developments, highlighting the tragic situation where the younger population has succumbed in an environment where “food has been weaponized.”
Observers have noted that in May, the Israeli government intensified its restrictive measures on Gaza, building upon the stringent siege that has been in place since 2007. Critics argue this was an attempt to increase the number of casualties in the region.
Medical professionals in Gaza highlight the dire situation of hospitals in the coastal enclave, which have been significantly impacted by prolonged siege and bombardment, and are now experiencing an influx of malnutrition cases.
Every day, hundreds of children, parents, and elderly individuals arrive in a state of near-unconsciousness, with some rendered unable to speak, according to their accounts.
Medical professionals are observing severe and distressing symptoms consistent with advanced stages of starvation. Patients exhibit alarming signs such as memory loss, where individuals are unable to recall their own names, and extreme fatigue, causing them to collapse while speaking.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has reported that over 17,000 children are currently experiencing severe malnutrition.
Between the months of March and June, the organization reports a doubling in the number of children under the age of five suffering from malnutrition.
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) conducted screenings of 74,000 children, revealing alarming results with 5,500 cases of severe acute malnutrition. Furthermore, over 800 children were identified as being in a critical state of wasting, a condition where the body starts consuming its own tissues for nourishment.
The conflict, initiated as a response to a long-standing historic resistance against decades of occupation and aggression by the regime, has resulted in the loss of over 59,000 Palestinian lives, the majority of whom are women and children.
