UN experts: Children in Gaza are dying because of Israel's "targeted starvation campaign"
By zoeysky // 2024-07-17
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Ten independent United Nations (UN) experts have accused Israel of enforcing a "targeted starvation campaign" that has resulted in the deaths of children in Gaza. In their statement, the UN experts declared that "Israel's intentional and targeted starvation campaign against the Palestinian people is a form of genocidal violence and has resulted in famine across all of Gaza." The experts also encouraged the international community to "prioritize the delivery of humanitarian aid by land by any means necessary" and "end Israel’s siege and establish a ceasefire." While the UN has yet to officially declare a famine in the Gaza Strip, the experts, including UN special rapporteur on the right to food Michael Fakhri, argued that it is hard to deny that there were famine conditions in the Palestinian territory. The UN experts added that at least 34 Palestinians have died from malnutrition since Oct. 7, "the majority being children." The experts were appointed by the UN Human Rights Council but they do not speak on behalf of the United Nations. (Related: Pro-Palestine protesters burned American flag during Gaza solidarity march on Independence Day.)

Israel's mission to the UN denies charges

The statement from UN experts was heavily criticized by Israel's mission to the UN in Geneva, which claimed that Fakhri and the "so-called 'experts' who joined his statement" are used to spreading misinformation, "as they are to supporting Hamas propaganda and shielding the terrorist organization from scrutiny." Israel's leaders and military commanders have always blamed the human suffering in Gaza on the enclave's long-time Hamas rulers, who triggered the devastating ongoing war with their unprecedented Oct. 7 terrorist attack on Israel. The October attack resulted in the militants killing an estimated 1,200 people. At least 240 others have been taken hostage. At least 80 of the hostages are still believed to be alive and held captive in Gaza. According to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the goals of his country's war with Hamas are to "destroy the group and rescue the hostages." The Gaza Health Ministry claims that the war has killed more than 38,000 Palestinians in the coastal territory.

At least 3 children in Gaza recently died due to malnutrition

The UN experts listed three children who had recently died "from malnutrition" after many others allegedly starved to death in northern Gaza earlier this year. Fayez Ataya, who was barely six months old, died on May 30. Meanwhile, 13-year-old Abdulqader Al-Serhi died on June 1 at the Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah, said the UN experts. Ahmad Abu Reida, who was nine, died two days later "in the tent sheltering his displaced family in Al-Mawasi, Khan Younis," said the experts. The experts also claimed that the death of these children from starvation "despite medical treatment in central Gaza," proves that "famine has spread from northern Gaza into central and southern Gaza." They have also criticized the rest of the world because it isn't doing enough to prevent the disaster. "When a two-month-old baby and 10-year-old Yazan Al Kafarneh died of hunger on 24 February and 4 March respectively, this confirmed that famine had struck northern Gaza," said the UN experts. They added that the whole world "should have intervened earlier to stop Israel's genocidal starvation campaign and prevented these deaths… Inaction is complicity." Gaza has struggled with a terrible humanitarian crisis since the war began and the UN has warned for months of a "looming famine," particularly in the north, but one has yet to be officially declared. While a famine declaration does not have any legal implications, it can help to incite much-needed international support for the affected population. The Israeli mission also emphasized that the latest assessment by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification partnership ruled that famine had not materialized after aid access somehow improved in Gaza. The mission said that "Israel has continuously scaled up its coordination and assistance in the delivery of humanitarian aid across the Gaza Strip," adding that Hamas "intentionally steal and hide aid from civilians." For months, the United States has tried to convince Israel to increase the flow of aid into Gaza. The administration of President Joe Biden has also ordered the military to build a floating pier on the territory's Mediterranean coast to help get more food and other vital supplies in Gaza. However, the $230 million pier project has faced several logistical challenges and never managed to generate a significant amount of aid entering Gaza. The project has often been described by U.S. officials as an additive measure, while also acknowledging that Gaza's land borders, which are regulated by Israel, are the only way to get sufficient aid into the area. Aid agencies have also accused Israel of controlling the flow of aid into Gaza and creating bureaucratic hurdles to movement around the war-torn area. But Israel dismisses those allegations and instead claims that Hamas is the one interfering with humanitarian work in Gaza. Visit IsraelCollapse.com for more stories about the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip. Watch the video below to see how skin diseases, dysentery and hepatitis are spiking in Gaza due to the Israeli destruction of water facilities. This video is from the Cynthia's Pursuit of Truth channel on Brighteon.com.

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Starvation could lead to MASS DEATHS in the Gaza Strip, resident warns. COLD-BLOODED MURDER: Palestinian civilians were shot execution-style during Gaza hostage rescue operation. Palestinian child dies of malnutrition as hunger crisis rages in Gaza. Israel approves largest LAND GRAB in the Palestinian West Bank in over 30 years. Sources include: MiddleEastEye.net CBSNews.com Brighteon.com
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