The United Nations on Tuesday reported a sharp rise in child malnutrition in the Gaza Strip, while health officials said ongoing Israeli airstrikes killed at least 93 people in 24 hours, including dozens of women and children.
UNRWA, the main U.N. agency operating in Gaza, said it screened nearly 16,000 children under age 5 in June and found 10.2% to be acutely malnourished—up from 5.5% in March. UNICEF also reported 5,870 cases of malnutrition among children in June, more than double February's figure.
The rise in hunger follows Israel's tightened blockade since March, when it restricted the entry of food and aid after breaking a ceasefire. Although some aid was allowed in May, the U.N. says the 69 trucks entering daily fall far short of the hundreds needed.
Gaza's Health Ministry said 93 people were killed and 278 injured in Israeli strikes over the past 24 hours. One strike in Shati refugee camp killed Hamas legislator Mohammed Faraj al-Ghoul and a family of eight. Another in Gaza City’s Tel al-Hawa district killed 19 members of a single family, including eight women and six children.
59 Palestinians killed in Gaza by Israeli fire and airstrikes
Israel’s military did not comment on the attacks but maintains it targets militants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas’ use of dense urban areas.
Meanwhile, U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee called for accountability after a 20-year-old Palestinian-American was reportedly beaten to death by settlers in the West Bank. In Lebanon, Israeli strikes on Hezbollah targets in the Bekaa Valley killed 12 people, including seven Syrians in a refugee camp.
The death toll in Gaza since October 7 has surpassed 58,400, with over half believed to be women and children.