Five-month-old Zeinab Abu Halib tragically died of starvation in Gaza, underscoring the severe humanitarian crisis exacerbated by Israel's blockade. Her death is part of a growing number of fatalities due to malnutrition, with at least 122 people reported dead since the conflict's escalation in October 2023.
Tragic Death of Infant Zeinab Highlights Starvation Crisis in Gaza
Tragic Death of Infant Zeinab Highlights Starvation Crisis in Gaza
The infant Zeinab lived only five months. She is the latest in a series of babies dying from starvation in Gaza. "Suddenly, I felt her stop moving and breathing; her body became heavier," her mother told CNN.
Zeinab Abu Halib was born at the beginning of the year in war-torn Gaza. She was a healthy baby, without complications.
Yet now she is dead.
Zeinab died on Friday in her mother's arms due to starvation.
"I don't know what to say anymore. How many innocent babies like Zeinab must starve to death before the world wakes up?" says her mother, Israa Abu Halib, to CNN.
According to the Hamas-controlled health ministry, at least 122 people have died of starvation since the war began in October 2023.
"I Felt Her Stop Breathing"
Zeinab spent most of her life in the hospital, her mother recounts. Since she couldn't be breastfed, she needed formula—a scarce resource as Israel has blocked emergency aid from entering Gaza for months.
On Friday, Zeinab needed to return to the hospital for food. She died on the way there.
"I had to walk for over 30 minutes because there is no transport. The gravel road was so long, the weather so hot, but I kept walking even though I was hungry and had no water," says Israa.
"Suddenly, I felt her stop moving and breathing; her body became heavier."
Died of "Severe Malnutrition"
Photos published by Zeinab's uncle on Facebook show her tiny body with protruding bones.
The Director-General of Gaza's health ministry wrote on X that she "died from complications due to severe malnutrition."
The majority of starvation-related deaths have occurred since Israel's blockade began. Médecins Sans Frontières told CNN that a quarter of all children between five months and six years old suffer from acute malnutrition. Additionally, the number of children treated for malnutrition has quadrupled since mid-May.