As the Gaza Strip marks 103 days of total blockade by Israel, government officials have said hundreds of thousands of people, including 650,000 children, are facing famine “amid shameful international silence”, according to Al Jazeera.

A government statement said that Israeli forces closed all crossings and prevented the entry of food, medicine, and fuel “in one of the most severe crimes of collective siege in modern times”.

“Over the past three days, we have recorded dozens of deaths due to shortages of food and essential medical supplies, in an extremely cruel humanitarian situation.”

The statement added that 67 children have died of famine so far and approximately 1.25 million people in Gaza are experiencing “catastrophic hunger”.