Calls are mounting for the Trump administration too pressure Israeli Prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to secure a ceasefire in Gaza and facilitate the return of hostages.This comes as reports detail a severe famine within the Strip, with images circulating of Palestinians appearing emaciated due to extreme hunger, suffering from nausea, fatigue, and loss of consciousness.
As March, Israel has reportedly stalled progress on a ceasefire and prisoner exchange agreement with Hamas, while also restricting the flow of aid trucks into Gaza by closing border crossings. The Ministry of Health in Gaza stated on Friday that nine Palestinians, including two children, died within a 24-hour period as a result of what it described as Israel’s “starvation policy.” This brings the total number of deaths attributed to starvation and lack of food to 122 as October 20, 2023, with 83 of those being children.
The ongoing conflict, supported by the United States, has resulted in over 203,000 Palestinian casualties, including deaths and injuries, with a significant proportion being women and children.Additionally, more than 9,000 individuals are reported missing, and hundreds of thousands have been displaced, leading to a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented scale.
