At least 14 Palestinians have died from starvation in Gaza, the enclave’s Health Ministry said Monday, as humanitarian aid begins to reach the enclave in limited quantities.

In a statement, the ministry said hospitals recorded the deaths in the past 24 hours due to starvation and malnutrition. 

The new fatalities follow the deadliest week of famine-related deaths since the war began in October 2023, with at least 55 people dying of hunger last week alone.

The total number of Palestinians who have died from starvation now stands at 147, including 88 children according to the ministry. Among the dead are also elderly and disabled civilians.

Photos and videos circulating on social media show graphic images of severely malnourished children, including babies reportedly unable to breastfeed due to their mothers’ starvation.

One infant, six-month-old Zaineb Abu Halib, died Saturday weighing less than she did at birth, according to the ministry.

On Sunday, 10-year-old Noor Abu Saleh died from starvation, her body reduced to a skeletal-like state with bulging eyes.

10-year-old Noor Abu Saleh [EyeonPalestine/X]

The surge in starvation deaths comes amid mounting warnings from humanitarian groups. On Tuesday, 115 aid organizations issued an open letter warning of a looming famine and accused Israel of obstructing the delivery of sufficient aid into the enclave.

On Thursday, the World Food Programme said nearly one in three people in Gaza — about 730,000 individuals — are “not eating for days at a time.”

Israel announces ‘tactical pause’ in Gaza

The Israeli military announced Saturday a “tactical pause” in parts of the Gaza Strip to facilitate humanitarian aid, following growing international pressure over widespread hunger in the enclave.

According to the Associated Press, the pause will last 10 hours a day for one week — from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. — and aims to allow more aid to enter from Egypt and Jordan. Aid airdrops have also begun in Gaza’s demilitarized zones.

Despite the efforts, United Nations officials have criticized the move as inadequate, warning that starvation in Gaza continues to escalate.

Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), called the airdrops a “distraction.”

“Gaza airdrops will not reverse the deepening starvation. They are expensive, inefficient & can even kill starving civilians,” he said in a statement. “It is a distraction & screensmoke.”

Lazzarini called the crisis “man-made” and urged Israel to lift its siege. 

“A man-made hunger can only be addressed by political will. Lift the siege, open the gates & guarantee safe movements + dignified access to people in need,” he said.

Despite mounting reports of starvation, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Monday that “there is no policy of starvation in Gaza.”