The Israeli occupation has once again tightened its siege on the Gaza Strip, preventing the entry of humanitarian aid into its northern areas since the start of its military operation and separating the north from the south — a move that has worsened the already dire humanitarian situation.

Residents report that markets in Gaza City are witnessing a sharp rise in prices beyond their purchasing power amid deteriorating living conditions and the absence of any source of income. Many goods have disappeared, and what remains is limited to canned foods and legumes, most of which are non-essential items.

The Director General of the Government Media Office in Gaza, Ismail al-Thawabta, stated that the occupation’s policy of starving the residents of northern Gaza is a deliberate use of food as a weapon of war, aimed at subjugating the population and stripping them of their right to life. He added, “We are facing a growing famine, a collapse of the health and social systems, and an almost complete absence of basic necessities for survival.”

According to al-Thawabta, more than 650,000 children in the Gaza Strip are at risk of death due to hunger and malnutrition, while 40,000 infants face the danger of dying from a lack of milk, as the occupation prevents the entry of 250,000 cans of milk each month.