Latest Gaza baby dies of starvation, weighing less than at birth

A 5-month-old Palestinian baby, Zainab Ahmed Abu Halib, died on Friday at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, becoming the latest reported child fatality from malnutrition-related causes in Gaza.

Her death underscores the deepening humanitarian catastrophe in the enclave, which has endured 22 months of "Israeli"-led genocide and a crippling blockade that continues to restrict life-saving aid.

Zainab was brought to the pediatric department of Nasser Hospital on Friday already deceased. Her small body, weighing less than 2 kilograms (4.4 pounds) at the time of her death, showed visible signs of severe wasting.

According to her mother, Esraa Abu Halib, Zainab had weighed over 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds) at birth, as reported by AP.

Doctors at Nasser Hospital confirmed her death was due to "severe, severe starvation," stating she needed a special formula for cow's milk allergies that was unavailable in Gaza. The lack of this specific formula led to chronic diarrhea and vomiting, weakening her immune system and resulting in a bacterial infection and sepsis.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry's latest toll released on Saturday, Zainab is one of 85 children who have died from malnutrition-related causes in Gaza since the war began in October 2023.

The ministry also reported that 127 people have died from malnutrition-related causes overall, with adult deaths specifically counted in recent weeks. Another infant, 7-day-old Hood Arafat, reportedly died from malnutrition at al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City on Saturday, July 26.

Medical officials and aid workers in Gaza attribute the surge in malnutrition deaths, particularly among infants and children, to "Israel's" ongoing blockade and restrictions on the entry of essential food, baby formula, and medical supplies.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Sunday, July 27, that malnutrition rates in Gaza have reached alarming levels, with a significant spike in deaths in July.

Of 74 malnutrition-related deaths in 2025 documented by WHO, 63 occurred in July, including 24 children under five. UNICEF also reported on July 24 that the number of children who have died from malnutrition has jumped by 54 percent in less than three months, reaching 80.

Food security experts continue to warn of famine conditions across Gaza, where over 2 million people reside.

The Gaza Government Media Office has issued stark warnings about an "unprecedented and imminent humanitarian disaster," stating that 100,000 children aged two years and under, including 40,000 babies, are at risk of death within days due to a "complete lack of baby milk and nutritional supplements."