Gaza Strip, June 28 (Petra) -- The number of children in the Gaza Strip who died of malnutrition rose to 66 due to Israel's continued closure of border crossings that blocked the entry of baby formula and supplements for vulnerable and weak groups, especially infants and the sick, the Government Media Office in Gaza said Saturday.

The blockade is a war crime, a crime against humanity and a deliberate use of starvation by Israeli occupation forces as a weapon to exterminate civilians, especially children, in a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law and the Geneva Conventions, it said in a statement.

The statement condemned "this ongoing crime against childhood in the Gaza Strip," expressing deep concern and condemnation of the rising number of child victims.

It also decried international silence over the suffering of children, who are left as a prey to starvation, disease, and slow death, holding the Israeli occupation forces fully responsible for "this catastrophe."

The statement appealed to the international community, the United Nations, and Arab and Islamic countries to intervene urgently and pressure Israel to open the crossings immediately, allow the entry of food and medical supplies, and save the remaining children and patients before it is too late.

//Petra//SS

28/06/2025 15:52:59