As Israel continues to enforce a blockade on two million Palestinians, hunger in Gaza could have a lasting impact on “an entire generation”, the World Health Organisation has warned.
The IDF’s military campaign against Hamas has left half a million people there facing starvation, with the situation particularly acute among children.
“I’ve seen a child that’s five years old, and you would say it was two-and-a-half,” WHO representative for the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Rik Peeperkorn, said on Tuesday.
Figures from Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry suggest that 55 children have died from acute malnutrition.
Palestinian boy Osama Al-Reqep, five, lies on a hospital bed amid Gaza’s hunger crisis. Pic: Reuters
The WHO warning comes as Donald Trump arrives in Saudi Arabia for his four-day tour of the Middle East, and following the release of American-Israeli hostage Edan Alexander on Monday.
Mr Peeperkorn continued: “Without enough nutritious food, clean water and access to healthcare, an entire generation will be permanently affected.”
He said that children growing up in Gaza could have their growth stunted and their cognitive development impaired.
Israel has imposed a blockade on Gaza in an effort to put pressure on Hamas, which it blamed for causing hunger by stealing aid meant for civilians. Hamas denies the allegation.
Due to the blockade, the WHO only has enough stocks to treat 500 children with acute malnutrition, which is only a fraction of what is needed, Mr Peeperkorn said.
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Fighting in Gaza resumed following the collapse of the ceasefire agreement earlier this year, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu saying that the IDF would now hold the whole of Gaza indefinitely.
More than 52,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its ground invasion of Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry, following the deadly attacks by the militant group on Israel, which killed 1,200 people and saw around 250 people taken hostage.
It remains to be seen whether the release of a hostage by Hamas on Monday will see efforts to achieve a renewed ceasefire come closer to fruition.
The 21-year-old was believed to be the last living American hostage in Gaza.
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Hamas release Israeli-American hostage
Hamas said in a statement: “We affirm the movement’s readiness to immediately begin negotiations to reach a comprehensive and sustainable ceasefire agreement, including the withdrawal of the occupation army, the end of the siege, a prisoner exchange, and the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip.
“We urge the Trump administration to continue its efforts to end this brutal war waged by the war criminal Netanyahu against children, women, and defenceless civilians in the Gaza Strip.”
Mr Alexander’s parents, who live in the US, made the journey to Israel ahead of the release.
Nasser Hospital reportedly damaged in an Israeli strike. Pic: Reuters
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The family said they were deeply grateful to US President Donald Trump and his administration for its work to secure the release – and have urged the Israeli government to continue efforts to free all hostages.
Palestinian health officials reported Israeli tank shelling and an air attack after the hostage handover, and there was no deal on a wider truce or hostage releases
In northern Gaza, a woman was killed and several other people wounded when tank shells hit a school housing displaced families.
An Israeli airstrike also killed a well-known Palestinian journalist who it accused of working with Hamas and was
recovering in hospital from an earlier strike, Gaza’s health ministry said.
Israel accused Hassan Aslih of taking part in the 7 October attacks.