At least 124 children are among those killed by starvation, according to the ministry. [Getty]
Seven new deaths from hunger-related causes were recorded in Gaza on Sunday, bringing the total death toll from Israel’s forced starvation of the enclave to 229, Gaza’s health ministry said.
The ministry said in a statement that “since the IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) declared famine in Gaza, 61 deaths have been recorded, including nine children”, referring to the UN-backed body’s announcement on 22 August.
At least 124 children are among those killed by starvation, according to the ministry.
The health ministry also warned on Sunday of a severe wave of influenza spreading among children in Gaza, with wards in the enclave overcrowded with new patients.
Dr. Ahmed Al-Farra, Head of Pediatrics at the Tahrir Building in Khan Younis’ Nasser Hospital, attributed the rising cases to a weakening of the children’s immune systems and a lack of basic food items and supplements.
Israel closed all crossings into Gaza since 2 March, imposing a famine on the enclave and allowing in only limited amounts of supplies.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant are wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) on war crimes charges, including using starvation as a weapon of war.
Israel is also accused of committing genocide in a filing submitted to the Intenational Court of Justice (ICJ) by South Africa.
At least 63,371 Palestinians have been killed and 159,835 wounded since Israel launched its latest assault on Gaza in October 2023.
