Six more people have died of starvation and malnutrition in Gaza in the past 24 hours, bringing the total death toll from hunger-related causes to 175, including 93 children, since the outbreak of war in October 2023, according to Gaza’s health ministry.
The grim update comes as Egyptian state television reported that two fuel trucks carrying 107 tons of diesel are expected to cross into the enclave on Sunday potentially offering a temporary reprieve for hospitals crippled by months-long fuel shortages.
The rare fuel delivery follows international pressure on Israel, which had imposed severe restrictions on humanitarian aid to Gaza, citing efforts to force Hamas to release remaining hostages.
Israel blames Hamas for the humanitarian crisis but recently agreed to measures aimed at alleviating conditions, including limited pauses in fighting, protected aid routes, and coordinated airdrops.
However, UN agencies say airdrops fall far short of what’s needed and stress that more aid must be allowed in by land.
According to COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for coordinating aid, 35 trucks have entered Gaza since June, most in July.
But Hamas-run media counters that around 1,600 aid trucks have arrived since Israel’s partial easing of restrictions late last month, though many were reportedly looted by desperate civilians and armed groups.
In addition to starvation deaths, at least 40 people were killed on Sunday by Israeli airstrikes and gunfire across Gaza, including individuals en route to aid distribution sites.
A Palestinian Red Crescent worker was among those killed when an Israeli strike sparked a fire at their headquarters in Khan Younis.
The war began after Hamas killed over 1,200 people and captured 251 hostages on October 7, 2023.
Gaza health authorities say more than 60,000 Palestinians have died since Israel’s retaliatory offensive began.
