Hamas health ministry says 8 died of malnutrition complications in Gaza in past day

Eight people, including three children, have died over the past 24 hours due to complications from malnutrition, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza.

The figures bring the total number of hunger deaths to 225, including 106 children, since the start of the war, according to the Hamas office, whose figures have not been verified.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric says in a briefing that 53 “validated child deaths from malnutrition have been reported,” since the start of the year, including 39 under the age of 5.

Israel has taken steps since late last month to surge aid into Gaza after imposing a 78-day blockade and subsequently only allowing limited amounts into the Strip.

Jerusalem has denied accusations that it has used starvation as a weapon of war and has exposed that several widely disseminated photos of malnourished-looking children were of individuals suffering from other diseases.

While there are indications that the steps are gradually easing the crisis, aid groups long warned that impacts of a hunger crisis are difficult and take time to reverse once in place.

Dujarric says the entry of goods has improved the market situation in terms of both prices and availability, with sugar prices dropping from $175 to $12 per bag over the past two weeks.

However, severe cash shortages are preventing families from being able to buy food, water and medicine.

Israeli strikes have destroyed the banking system in Gaza, and cash is only available on the black market where those seeking it have to pay fifty percent commission fees. While digital banking services were increasingly used during the previous ceasefire, Israeli restrictions aimed at preventing Hamas from accessing funds through this mechanism have led to a significant reduction in its use.

While Israel said 320 trucks of aid were offloaded from the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings, Dujarric says half of the 15 requested UN missions to collect food and fuel were either cancelled, denied or impeded by the IDF.