The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has reported that eleven more people have died from malnutrition in Gaza, raising the total number of malnutrition-related deaths to 212, including 98 children. This figure reflects the severe humanitarian crisis gripping the Gaza Strip amid ongoing conflict and strict blockade conditions that have drastically limited food and aid supplies. The deaths are part of a wider pattern of worsening hunger and famine, reported over nearly two years of conflict that began in October 2023, and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly warned of an unfolding famine emergency in the area.

The crisis in Gaza is largely driven by the blockade and restrictions on aid deliveries imposed by Israel, which controls entry points into the territory. Despite international pressure, the flow of humanitarian aid remains insufficient to meet the needs of Gaza's 2.1 million residents. Israel insists that aid distribution must go through the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund (GHF) to ensure food does not fall into Hamas hands. However, this process has been dangerously inefficient and even deadly. Since the GHF began operating in May 2025, the United Nations estimates that about 1,400 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces while attempting to access aid, reflecting the extreme tension and risks at aid distribution sites.

The malnutrition situation is especially dire among children. The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed a sharp rise in acute malnutrition rates, with nearly 12,000 children under five identified as acutely malnourished in July 2025 alone—the highest monthly toll ever recorded. Malnutrition is not only causing deaths but is also likely to have long-term effects on survivors, including irreversible health and developmental issues. Many malnutrition-related deaths are also going unreported due to security barriers and limited access to healthcare facilities.

This surge in malnutrition deaths coincides with an increase in Israeli military activity and a controversial new Israeli plan to gain full security control of Gaza City by forcibly relocating approximately one million residents southward. The plan, approved by the Israeli security cabinet in August 2025, has drawn widespread condemnation both internationally and within Israel. Meanwhile, ongoing airstrikes and ground operations continue to cause significant casualties and injuries among the Gaza population. The dead and wounded from military actions further exacerbate the humanitarian crisis, compounding fears of starvation with the ongoing violence.