EU’s Borrell Denounces Israel’s ‘Starvation’ Tactics in Gaza
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, condemned Israel's use of "starvation as a weapon of war" in the Gaza Strip, stating that the region is in a state of famine deliberately provoked by Israel.
"This is unacceptable," Borrell declared at a conference in Brussels, highlighting the dire situation in Gaza which is no longer on the brink of famine but in a state of one.
His comments were met with a fierce response from the Israeli regime’s foreign policy chief, who accused Borrell of unjustifiably attacking Israel. The Israeli official claimed that “extensive” aid is being allowed into the enclave.
However, numerous aid groups have slammed Israel for deliberately obstructing aid into Gaza, leading to famine-like conditions. UK charity Oxfam, in a new report, stated that Israel's policies are creating the "perfect storm for humanitarian collapse."
The situation in Gaza has led to unprecedented levels of malnutrition among children, according to UNICEF. The agency reported that malnutrition is spreading rapidly due to the impacts of war and ongoing restrictions on aid delivery.
In North Gaza, 31 percent of children under the age of two, or one in every three children, suffer from acute malnutrition, a significant increase from 15.6 percent in January. In Central Gaza, 28 percent of children have acute malnutrition, with more than 10 percent experiencing severe wasting. In South Gaza, the rate of acute malnourishment among children has doubled to 10 percent.
The Israeli attacks on Gaza since October 7 have resulted in the deaths of at least 31,645 Palestinians and injuries to 73,676 others.