The dire humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza has reached a devastating peak, with widespread reports of child starvation highlighting the profound impact of ongoing conflict and severe blockades. The harrowing case of Muhammed Mutawwaq, an infant whose emaciated body has become a stark symbol, illustrates the catastrophic human cost of the deprivation imposed on the civilian population.

Born in December 2023 amidst intense attacks and the initial starvation campaigns, Muhammed initially faced minor muscle weakness due to a lack of oxygen at birth. Despite these early challenges, his mother, Hidaya, diligently pursued physiotherapy, and doctors noted promising improvements in his overall health and development.

However, as the conflict intensified and Israel’s blockade tightened on essential goods, Muhammed’s progress tragically reversed. His mother, herself suffering from malnutrition, found it increasingly difficult to secure milk and baby formula, leading to the child’s rapid deterioration and severe weight loss from nine kilograms to less than six.

Hidaya’s struggle intensified after her husband was killed in an Israeli attack, leaving her as the sole provider for two children amidst unprecedented scarcity. She recounts heartbreaking instances of days without food, relying on unsanitary soup kitchen meals that likely contributed to Muhammed’s severe dehydration and worsening health.

Doctors diagnosed Muhammed with severe acute malnutrition (SAM), the most extreme form, emphasizing that only consistent access to proper nutrition could save his life. This medical assessment directly counters claims from some factions that the infant’s condition was solely due to pre-existing health issues, underscoring that his previous improvements ceased only when food became unobtainable.

The crisis extends far beyond individual cases; UNICEF data reveals an alarming surge in acute malnutrition among children in Gaza. From the start of 2025 until May, an average of 112 children daily were diagnosed, with thousands more confirmed in June and early July, indicating a widespread and escalating public health catastrophe.

The UN agency has issued dire warnings that the entire population of the Gaza Strip faces food insecurity, placing over 320,000 children under five at immediate risk of acute malnutrition. Children who once crawled and spoke are now regressing, unable to sit or hold their heads steady, a direct consequence of the systematic deprivation.

Hidaya’s plea extends to basic hygiene products like diapers, which are also blocked, forcing her to use plastic bags, causing painful rashes in the scorching heat. This desperate measure highlights the comprehensive nature of the blockade and its devastating impact on the most vulnerable, painting a grim picture of a population fighting for mere existence against deliberate starvation tactics.