Hospitals throughout the Gaza Strip confirmed five more deaths on Wednesday, including one child, resulting from starvation and acute malnutrition within the past 24 hours.
These latest fatalities raise the total number of confirmed hunger-related deaths to 404, with children accounting for 141 of those lives, according to figures released by the Palestinian Ministry of Health.
Since the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) officially designated parts of Gaza as experiencing famine, at least 126 deaths have been recorded, including 26 children.
The IPC, UN-backed global authority on food insecurity, identified the north-central governorate as the epicenter of the crisis and warned that famine conditions are rapidly spreading southward toward Deir Al-Balah, in central Gaza, and Khan Younis, in the southern part of the coastal enclave.
Medical facilities in Gaza continue to receive a steady stream of patients suffering from starvation and severe nutritional deficiencies.
An estimated 900,000 children are facing hunger, with 70,000 already diagnosed with clinical malnutrition.
UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, has reported a doubling of malnutrition rates among children under five between March and June—a direct consequence of Israel’s ongoing blockade and military siege.
In a briefing to the UN Security Council, Deputy Humanitarian Chief Joyce Msuya described the situation as a manufactured disaster, stating that the famine is not the result of environmental factors but of deliberate policies that have led to mass civilian casualties, displacement, and the destruction of essential infrastructure.
Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International and Doctors Without Borders have accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war, pointing to the deliberate blocking of aid convoys and the targeting of food distribution networks.
Thousands of tons of humanitarian supplies remain stalled in Jordan and Egypt as Israel continues to tighten the deadly siege, while Gaza’s population endures catastrophic levels of food insecurity under bombardment and blockade.
As of September 10, 2025, the number of confirmed deaths from famine and acute malnutrition in Gaza has climbed to at least 519, based on updated reports from field hospitals and humanitarian observers. This marks a steep increase since the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) officially declared famine conditions in parts of the Strip two weeks ago.
The true toll is likely higher, as many deaths remain undocumented due to the collapse of medical services, mass displacement, and the repeated targeting of healthcare facilities.
The World Health Organization and UNICEF estimate that more than half a million people are currently trapped in famine-affected zones, where access to food, clean water, and medical aid is being systematically denied. Since January, over 44,000 children have been treated for acute malnutrition, and the crisis continues to deepen.
UNRWA has reported that malnutrition rates among children under five have doubled between March and June, directly linked to Israel’s blockade and military siege.
Al Jazeera has described the situation as a “man-made famine,” pointing to the deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid and the destruction of civilian infrastructure.
Humanitarian organizations including Doctors Without Borders, Amnesty International, and Refugees International have accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war.
They cite the blocking of aid convoys, the targeting of food distribution networks, and the deliberate isolation of entire communities. Thousands of tons of humanitarian supplies remain stuck in Jordan and Egypt, while Gaza’s population continues to endure catastrophic levels of food insecurity under siege and bombardment.
