GAZA (Palestine Foundation Information Center) Marwan Al-Hams, Director-General of Field Hospitals in Gaza, revealed that more than 16,000 children have been killed in the Gaza Strip since the beginning of Israel’s genocidal war on 7 October 2023.
Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Al-Hams stated that this equates to the death of one child every 40 minutes over the past 17 months.
He added that 908 Palestinian children were killed before reaching their first birthday, while 311 children were born and martyred during the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Al-Hams noted that there have been documented cases of children being killed while attempting to collect food aid from charitable soup kitchens, directly targeted by Israeli airstrikes.
He further explained that Israel’s blockade and closure of crossings for over two months have exacerbated the health crisis, with many primary healthcare centers shut down either due to direct bombardment or because they are located within evacuation zones, depriving thousands of children and pregnant women of essential medical care.
Al-Hams reported that shortages in women’s and children’s medicines have reached 51%, particularly concerning nutritional supplements, vitamins, vaccinations, and infant formula.
He highlighted that polio vaccines are still banned from entering Gaza, posing a serious threat to the preventive health efforts previously undertaken.
Moreover, Al-Hams stated that reliance on a single incomplete meal per day has caused widespread emaciation and malnutrition among children, who are also deprived of safe drinking water and healthy food due to the destruction of infrastructure and the blockade on humanitarian aid.
Israeli occupation forces continue to wage a genocidal war and systematic starvation campaign against Gaza’s civilian population for the 49th consecutive day, maintaining a complete siege by closing all crossings and preventing the entry of medicine, food, and humanitarian aid.
Since early Monday morning, the number of martyrs from Israeli strikes on residential buildings in northern Gaza has risen to 20.
Official Palestinian figures, published by the Government Media Office in Gaza, report that the number of deaths caused by starvation has reached 57 amid the ongoing closure of crossings and the blockade on baby formula and nutritional supplements.
According to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, the total death toll from the Israeli military aggression on Gaza since 7 October 2023 has reached 52,567, with 118,610 wounded.
The Ministry further stated that since Israel’s violation of the ceasefire agreement and resumption of genocide on 18 March 2025, there have been 2,459 martyrs and 6,569 injuries recorded.
