The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has strongly urged Israel to halt what he described as a preventable "catastrophe" of starvation in Gaza. He revealed that more than 370 Palestinians, including children, have died from hunger and malnutrition since the war began in October 2023.

Speaking from Geneva, Tedros emphasized that starvation of civilians is never acceptable. He warned that using hunger as a weapon of war is a war crime and risks normalizing such practices in future conflicts if left unchallenged. His remarks came just weeks after the United Nations officially declared famine in parts of Gaza.

Reports from Gaza's Health Ministry show that among the 373 people who have died, at least 134 were children. More than 300 of these deaths happened within the last two months alone. Tedros said people are dying just a short distance away from trucks filled with food and aid, blocked from reaching them.

He highlighted that starvation will not bring safety to Israel nor help in the release of hostages. Instead, it is fueling more suffering and instability in the region. He urged Israel to lift restrictions on humanitarian supplies and allow lifesaving aid to enter without delay.

The WHO chief also warned of the spread of disease due to lack of food, clean water, and safe shelter. Weakened immune systems have already led to more than 100 new cases of Guillain-Barre Syndrome, a condition that can cause paralysis.

Tedros concluded by stressing that over 15,000 patients in Gaza urgently need evacuation for specialized care. More than 700 people, including nearly 140 children, have already died waiting. He appealed to Israel's allies to use their influence to help end this human-made disaster immediately.

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