The report warned that the risk of famine is “increasing each day,” blaming the hunger on insufficient aid entering Gaza. The war sparked by Hamas’ deadly Oct. 7 rampage and hostage-taking in Israel has killed nearly 20,000 Palestinians. At the start of the war, Israel stopped all deliveries of food, water, medicine and fuel into the territory. The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza said Tuesday the death toll since the start of the war had risen to more than 19,600. It blames the high number civilian deaths in Gaza on Hamas, saying it uses them as human shields when it fights in residential areas.

Source: New York Times December 22, 2023 09:17 UTC