According to Human Rights Watch reports today, children in Gaza are dying from complications related to hunger. Israeli authorities have deliberately halted the flow of essential aid, including food and fuel, to Gaza.
This action not only hinders humanitarian efforts but also deprives civilians of the necessary means to survive. It constitutes collective punishment inflicted on the civilian population and the use of hunger as a weapon of war, both considered war crimes.
The death toll has now risen to over 28,000 people, with 70% of them being women and children. "People in Gaza are dying of hunger right now. The speed with which this man-made crisis and malnutrition has devastated Gaza is terrifying," said Cindy McCain, executive director of the World Food Program.
According to international law, concerned governments should adopt targeted sanctions and suspend arms transfers to pressure the Israeli government to ensure access to humanitarian aid and basic services in Gaza. Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director at Human Rights Watch, stated that Israel's use of hunger as a weapon of war has proven deadly for children, emphasizing the need to end this crime, alleviate suffering, and allow humanitarian aid to reach all of Gaza unimpeded.
A United Nations-coordinated partnership, consisting of 15 international organizations and UN agencies investigating the hunger crisis in Gaza, reported on March 18, 2024, that all evidence points to a sharp acceleration of mortality and malnutrition.
The partnership warned that in northern Gaza, where it is estimated that 70% of the population suffers from catastrophic hunger, famine could occur at any time between mid-March and May.
To learn more, visit:
https://www.hrw.org/news/2024/04/09/gaza-israels-imposed-starvation-deadly-children
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/3/18/famine-expected-in-gaza-between-now-and-may-what-to-know
