Oman Daily Observer

Famine has spread throughout Gaza

The recent deaths of several more children from malnutriti­on in the Gaza Strip indicate that famine has spread throughout the enclave, a group of independen­t human rights experts mandated by the United Nations said on Tuesday.

Gaza health authoritie­s say at least 33 children have died of malnutriti­on, mostly in northern areas which had until recently faced the brunt of the Israeli military campaign launched after the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel.

Since early May, the war has spread to southern Gaza, hitting aid flows into the enclave amid restrictio­ns by Israel, which has accused UN agencies of failing to distribute supplies efficientl­y.

In Tuesday’s statement, the group of 11 rights experts cited the deaths of three children aged 13, 9-years-old and six months from malnutriti­on in the southern area of Khan Younis and the central area of Deir Al Balah since the end of May.

“With the death of these children from starvation despite medical treatment in central Gaza, there is no doubt that famine has spread from northern Gaza into central and southern Gaza,” the experts said.

Their statement, signed by experts including the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, condemned “Israel’s intentiona­l and targeted starvation campaign against the Palestinia­n people”.

Israel’s diplomatic mission in Geneva said the statement amounted to “misinforma­tion”.

“Israel has continuous­ly scaled up its coordinati­on and assistance in the delivery of humanitari­an aid across the Gaza Strip, recently connecting its power line to the Gaza water desalinati­on plant,” it added.