Gaza famine death toll hits 235 amid worsening crisis
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Gaza’s famine death toll rises to 235, including 106 children, as the Israeli blockade deepens the humanitarian crisis and threatens millions.
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Displaced Palestinians gather to collect water from a truck during a heat wave at a makeshift tent camp in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Wednesday, August 13, 2025 (AP)
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza announced that the death toll from famine and malnutrition in the besieged enclave has climbed to 235, including 106 children, as the humanitarian situation reaches catastrophic levels.
Under the ongoing tightened blockade, complete closure of crossings, and the Israeli occupation’s ban on the entry of food and medicine, hospitals and health centers across Gaza are facing an unprecedented crisis. More than 2.4 million civilians, including over 1.2 million children, are enduring severe hunger and malnutrition.
According to official ministry data, the fatalities include 129 adults, among them 19 women, 75 elderly individuals, and 35 men over the age of 18.
The ministry’s figures reveal alarming trends:
- 40,000 infants under the age of one are suffering from malnutrition and face life-threatening conditions.
- 250,000 children under the age of five are experiencing acute food shortages that put their lives at immediate risk.
- 1.2 million children under the age of 18 are living in severe food insecurity.
Health officials warn that without urgent and sustained humanitarian access, the death toll will continue to rise, as Gaza’s population faces one of the most severe hunger crises in modern history.
International scrutiny of Israeli blockade and aid restrictions
The Israeli government continues to deny the existence of famine in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu recently dismissed reports of starvation as a “bold-faced lie,” a position contradicted by US President Donald Trump, who acknowledged that “real starvation” is occurring.
Since May, the United Nations has been sidelined from aid distribution, replaced by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by the US and "Israel." The Famine Review Committee has criticized the foundation, warning that its distribution model is inadequate and could lead to mass starvation, even without the violence surrounding aid centers.
As of July 31, the UN human rights office reported that over 1,300 Palestinians have been killed while seeking aid near GHF distribution sites. The Israeli Occupation Forces deny targeting civilians, claiming only warning shots were fired.
Starvation in Gaza: a consequence of the Gaza genocide
The starvation crisis is not limited to patients; medical staff themselves report symptoms of malnourishment. Aid workers say they are witnessing people “wasting away” among their teams, threatening their ability to provide care.
Beyond the immediate deaths, the long-term impacts of Gaza's starvation are severe. Children may suffer permanent health damage, while injured and sick individuals take longer to heal, overwhelming the few remaining hospitals.
“Every one of our patients that we’re operating on has some level of malnourishment,” said Dr. Fadlalla. “I can tell you firsthand that everybody in Gaza is hungry, everybody.”
