Children in Gaza have been “dying from starvation-related complications since the Israeli government began using starvation as a weapon of war, a war crime”, the Human Rights Watch has said.

In a statement, it said, “Doctors and families in Gaza described children, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, suffering from severe malnutrition and dehydration, and hospitals ill-equipped to treat them.”

“The Israeli government’s use of starvation as a weapon of war has proven deadly for children in Gaza,” said Omar Shakir, Israel and Palestine director at HRW. “Israel needs to end this war crime, stop this suffering, and allow humanitarian aid to reach all of Gaza unhindered.”

The HRW called upon the governments concerned to “impose targeted sanctions and suspend arms transfers to press the Israeli government to ensure access to humanitarian aid and basic services in Gaza”.

A United Nations-coordinated partnership of 15 international organisations and UN agencies investigating the hunger crisis in Gaza reported on March 18 that “all evidence points towards a major acceleration of death and malnutrition”, the statement noted.