An extreme shortage of baby formula could cause tens of thousands of malnourished infants to slowly die, Al Jazeera reports, citing the government media office.

“There are over 40,000 infants under one year old in Gaza currently at risk of slow death due to this brutal and suffocating blockade,” said the media office, accusing Israel of blocking the entry of the product for 150 days.

“We urgently demand the immediate and unconditional opening of all crossings and the swift entry of baby formula and humanitarian aid,” the office continued.

In recent days, at least two children, including a five-month-old baby, have died from hunger-related causes in Gaza, pushing the number of starvation deaths to 133. The deceased baby had needed specialised baby formula that her family could not access in Gaza, according to her father.