ANKARA

Seven more Palestinians, including a child, died from starvation and malnutrition in the Gaza Strip on Saturday, according to the Health Ministry in the besieged enclave.

The new deaths, recorded in the past 24 hours, brought the total number of starvation-related fatalities since October 2023 to 169, including 93 children, the ministry said in a statement.

It warned that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to escalate as the Israeli blockade, now in its 18th year, prevents the entry of sufficient food and medical supplies.

“The situation is deteriorating rapidly,” the ministry stressed, renewing calls for the international community and humanitarian organizations to intervene immediately to stop the suffering and deliver urgent aid.

Since March 2, Israeli authorities have completely sealed off all border crossings, intensifying famine-like conditions across the enclave.

Rejecting international calls for a ceasefire, the Israeli army has pursued a brutal offensive on Gaza since Oct. 7, 2023, killing more than 60,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children. The relentless bombing has destroyed the enclave and led to a high risk of famine.

Last November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its war on the enclave.