• Over 17,000 children in Gaza are suffering from severe malnutrition.
• Reports confirm at least 86 deaths from starvation, including many children.
• The UN and health officials accuse Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war.

A four-year-old Palestinian girl, Rezzan Abu Zahir, died of malnutrition in Gaza amid the worsening humanitarian situation, with reports indicating that at least 86 people have succumbed to starvation, including 76 children, since the start of Israel's blockade on March 2. The Palestinian Health Ministry has characterized these deaths as part of a "silent massacre" occurring in the enclave, where nearly 59,000 Palestinians have been killed since October 2023, according to various sources including TRT Global and AA.

The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has also condemned the blockade, stating that it is "starving civilians," including 1 million children, and called for an urgent lifting of restrictions to allow humanitarian aid to reach those in desperate need. According to their reports, the rate of malnutrition among children aged under five has doubled since the blockade began, as resources dwindle and basic food supplies become inaccessible, as noted by AA and Middle East Eye.

Palestinian health officials have reported that hospitals are overwhelmed with cases of severe malnutrition, as many individuals are treated for symptoms linked to extreme hunger while essential medical supplies remain critically low. This dire scenario follows a continuation of Israeli airstrikes and ground operations, which have increased the urgency of the humanitarian situation in Gaza, as emphasized by TRT Global and Middle East Eye.

The international community has increasingly voiced concerns over the situation, labeling it a humanitarian disaster where thousands face imminent death due to starvation. As UN spokespersons urge an immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access, families continue to suffer the consequences of a protracted conflict, with eyewitness accounts describing scenes of desperation as civilians risk their lives seeking food, as highlighted by Al Jazeera and TRT Global.