Mon May 12 09:04:31 UTC 2025: ## Gaza Hospital Patients Face Starvation as Israel Tightens Blockade

**GAZA CITY** – The humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens as a three-month Israeli blockade continues to restrict food and aid supplies, leaving hospital patients severely malnourished and their families desperate. Doctors report widespread weight loss among wounded patients, with a critical lack of nutritional supplements even in intensive care units.

The situation is dire, with aid groups reporting a surge in malnutrition affecting thousands of children and an estimated 16,000 pregnant women and new mothers. Bakeries have closed, charity kitchens are dwindling due to supply shortages, and markets are nearly empty, forcing families to scavenge for food to sustain their hospitalized loved ones. The UN estimates that 80% of Gaza’s farmlands have been damaged by Israeli forces, further crippling local food production.

Dr. Khaled Alserr, a general surgeon at Nasser Hospital, described the limitations faced by medical staff: “Our hands are tied when it comes to making the best choice for patients. Choices are limited.”

Israel maintains the blockade is necessary to pressure Hamas to release hostages and disarm. However, rights groups condemn the blockade as a “starvation tactic” and a potential war crime, disputing Israeli claims that sufficient food entered Gaza during a previous ceasefire. Israel’s plan to control aid distribution through private contractors has been rejected by the UN and aid groups, raising concerns about access and potential violations of international law.

The ongoing conflict has resulted in a staggering death toll. Gaza’s Health Ministry reports at least 52,829 Palestinians killed and 119,554 wounded, while the Government Media Office estimates the death toll to be over 61,700, including thousands presumed dead under rubble. In Israel, at least 1,139 people were killed during the October 7th Hamas attacks, with over 200 taken captive. The dire situation in Gaza hospitals underscores the escalating humanitarian emergency resulting from the prolonged blockade and ongoing conflict.

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