In Gaza, 100 children have died from starvation and malnutrition, with WHO warning that 12,000 more are acutely malnourished. The death toll in Gaza has surpassed 60,000 since the conflict began. Israel faces international criticism for its blockade, which has severely restricted aid. Plans to occupy Gaza City have been condemned globally. In Sweden, church bells will ring in solidarity with Gaza, sparking debate over the focus on this conflict.
100 Children Die of Starvation in Gaza Amid Rising Tensions
100 Children Die of Starvation in Gaza
100 children have died from starvation and malnutrition in Gaza, according to local health authorities. Meanwhile, the WHO warns that 12,000 children are now suffering from acute malnutrition.
The death toll is rising in Gaza. Over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since the conflict began, according to the Hamas-controlled health authorities in Gaza.
In total, 100 children have died due to starvation and malnutrition, and 117 adults have died for the same reason.
In July, 12,000 children under five in Gaza suffered from acute malnutrition, according to the WHO.
– It is the highest number recorded in a month, said Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Thursday.
The UN has warned of mass starvation in Gaza, and Israel is criticized by aid and human rights organizations for using starvation as a weapon. In March, Israel imposed a total blockade on emergency aid to the area, and since then, only a limited and insufficient amount has been allowed in.
Plan for Occupation
Criticism from the international community against Israel has become increasingly vocal. Israel is accused of genocide by organizations like Amnesty, and several countries have stated they will recognize Palestine as a state. In Sweden, the government wants the EU's so-called association agreement with Israel to be frozen.
Meanwhile, Israel announced this week plans to occupy Gaza City and displace hundreds of thousands of people. The plan, condemned in many quarters, was passed in the security cabinet, even though Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's security advisor Tzachi Hanegbi tried to stop it, reports Times of Israel.
– Control over Gaza City would endanger the hostages' lives, therefore I oppose the Prime Minister's proposal, he reportedly said.
Israel already controls 75 percent of Gaza, and the cost of occupying the entire Gaza Strip has been estimated at 500 billion kronor per year, according to Ynet. This would result in a budget deficit of around seven percent.
Church Shows Support
On Sunday, church bells across Sweden will ring for those affected in Gaza and for peace between Israelis and Palestinians. This is at the urging of the bishops of the Church of Sweden.
– As everyone can see, the situation in Gaza is terrible with the violence, the starvation, the hostages, and the despair that exists in Gaza, says Martin Modéus to TT.
At the same time, the call has sparked debate, with some within the church questioning why the bells should ring for this particular conflict when there are so many in the world. They also believe that the Israeli hostages should be mentioned.
"The call to ring church bells borders on a type of activism that unfortunately plays into Hamas's hands," writes priest Magnus Hagström in a debate article.