WHO denounces Israel: “We are killing the children of Gaza de Hunger”

The Gaza Strip is on the edge of the collapse – and Israel has direct responsibility, denounce international authorities. Last Thursday (1/5), Michael Ryan, Deputy Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Emergency Program (WHO), was incisive in telling journalists that “we are destroying the body and soul of Gaza children. We are killing children with hunger. If we do not act, we will be accomplices of what happens before our eyes”.

Israel blocks two months ago all entry of food, medicines and fuel in the enclave, aggravating a widespread hunger that already reaches 2.4 million people. The justification of the Israeli government is to press Hamas to release 58 hostages, of the 251 still detained since October 7, 2023. However, the effects disproportionately reach the civilian population, especially children.

According to Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director General, “2 million people are suffering while 116,000 tons of food are blocked on the border a few minutes away.” The World Food Program (PMA) stated that its latest reserves ended in late April, forcing 25 bakeries and popular kitchens that served half of the population – still providing only 25% of daily food needs. Without food, no fuel and without drinking water, Palestinians now look for items to burn and cook, while food prices have fired at 1,400%.

A massacre of children

Since the resumption of the Israeli offensive, on March 18, almost 500 Palestinian children have been killed, Hamas said. In recent weeks alone, 1,350 civilians have died in Gaza, raising the total balance of the conflict to more than 50,000 dead since October, according to local numbers. The Gaza Civil Defense reported that in just one day, 19 civilians, mostly women and children, were killed in Israeli bombing in the north of the territory.

The UN denounces an unprecedented situation of humanitarian catastrophe. The blockade imposed by Israel is already the longest in Gaza’s recent history, with about 4,000 standing humanitarian trucks, prevented from entering. “The current level of malnutrition is causing a collapse in immunity,” warned Ryan. He stressed that diseases such as pneumonia and meningitis are on the rise, killing the most vulnerable.

Israel insists that there is enough food in the territory and accuses Hamas of diverting help, something the group vehemently denies. In addition, the Netanyahu government has announced plans to expand the genocidal military offensive, with the aim of “conquering Gaza” and, according to the prime minister, promoting the “voluntary exit from the inhabitants”, a plan inspired by Donald Trump’s proposals to transform Gaza into a kind of “Middle East Riviera”.

Between territories and human lives

International criticism increases, not only for military actions, but also for the size of civil deaths. For the hostage families forum, which brings together relatives of Israeli kidnappeds, the Netanyahu government “is choosing territory instead of hostages, contrary to the desire of over 70% of the Israeli population.”

Humanitarian organizations warn: More than 1 million children in Gaza are at imminent risk of death or irreversible sequelae for severe malnutrition. Without immediate entry of help, these deaths will be directly attributed to the political decisions of the Israeli government.

While Israel’s security office announces military expansion and recruitment of reservists, entire communities in Gaza face complete erasure with thousands of decimated families, children buried under rubble, schools and destroyed hospitals.

“As a doctor, I’m furious. It’s an abomination,” Ryan emphasized. “We must ask ourselves: how much blood is enough to satisfy the political goals on both sides?”

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with agencies