The Gaza Media Office (GMO) reported on Monday that at least 66 children have died due to malnutrition in the Gaza Strip, attributing the crisis to Israel’s ongoing blockade, which has restricted access to baby formula and supplementary food.

The GMO condemned the blockade as a deliberate act of starvation, labeling it a war crime and a violation of international law, including the Geneva Conventions.

In a statement, the GMO accused Israeli forces of using hunger as a weapon against civilians, particularly children, and described the situation as a “humanitarian catastrophe.” The office criticized the international community for its silence and held Israel, along with supporting nations such as the United States, United Kingdom, France, and Germany, responsible for what it called a genocide in Gaza.

The GMO urgently called for intervention by the United Nations and Arab and Islamic nations to pressure Israel into lifting the blockade and allowing food and medical supplies into the region. It emphasized the need to save surviving children and the sick before the crisis worsens.

The report comes as international humanitarian organizations raise alarms over deteriorating conditions in Gaza, where access to essential supplies has been severely limited for months. (ILKHA)