The Gaza government warned Friday that more than 65,000 children are at immediate risk of starvation due to Israel's continued blockade and closure of aid crossings, which local authorities described as part of an intentional starvation policy affecting the entire population of the Gaza Strip. In a statement, the Gaza Media Office accused Israel of "engineering a famine" by preventing the entry of more than 39,000 aid trucks carrying essential supplies, including food, fuel, and medicine, over the past two months. It called the blockade a "systematic crime" against 2.4 million civilians and a violation of international humanitarian law. "All bakeries in Gaza have been shut down for 40 consecutive days, leaving civilians without access to bread," the statement said. "Over 65,000 children now face starvation deaths from malnutrition as Israel weaponizes hunger against civilians." The blockade, which has lasted 70 days, has led to a near-total collapse of Gaza's humanitarian and healthcare infrastructure, according to local authorities. The Gaza government called on the United Nations and international community to intervene immediately to halt the blockade, reopen Gaza's border crossings, and ensure the delivery of life-saving humanitarian aid. The warning comes as UN officials sharply criticized a new Israeli aid plan for Gaza announced earlier this week, warning it fails to meet humanitarian standards and could worsen the crisis. Human rights organizations and aid agencies have echoed those concerns. Since Israel launched its military operation in Gaza in October 2023, nearly 52,800 Palestinians have been killed, the majority of them women and children, according to local health authorities. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants last November for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, accusing them of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice. — Agencies
