Palestinian teen starves to death following Israeli siege of Gaza
A 13-year-old Palestinian has lost his life due to starvation in the central Gaza Strip following the Israeli closure of the Rafah border crossing to humanitarian aid.
Palestine’s official news agency WAFA reported on Saturday that the teenager, identified as Abdul Qader al-Sarhi, succumbed to death in al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah.
Local medical sources were cited by WAFA as saying that the death toll from malnutrition and dehydration has risen to 37 in the Gaza Strip as Israel presses ahead with its brutal aggression on the southern city of Rafah.
“The health situation in the Gaza Strip has gone from bad to worse, with the [Israeli] military offensive expanding in the city of Rafah and all its hospitals being out of service,” the sources said.
“The announced toll reflects only what reaches hospitals while dozens are dying silently as a result of famine, without being able to reach hospitals.”
Fayez Abu Ataya, a seven-month-old Palestinian infant, also starved to death on Thursday in central Gaza due to the lack of milk and medicine as a result of Israel’s crippling blockade.
Resembling a bare skeleton, Fayez was filmed succumbing to starvation and dying in his father’s arms at al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah.
The Israeli regime has closed the Rafah crossing over the past several weeks despite international warnings of a deteriorating humanitarian situation due to the lack of flow of life-saving supplies to thousands of displaced Palestinians in the besieged area.
The Gaza Strip, especially the northern region, is grappling with severe shortages in food, water, medication and fuel as Israel’s aggression marks its eighth month.
Even the aid reaching the southern region of the enclave has been insufficient, particularly with the displacement of over 1.3 million people from northern Gaza to the south, notably to Rafah.
Israel launched its onslaught against the Gaza Strip, targeting hospitals, residences, and houses of worship after Palestinian fighters launched a surprise attack, dubbed Operation al-Aqsa Storm, against the regime on October 7, 2023.
At least 36,379 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, and 82,407 others injured.
