Pope calls on Israel to end 'collective punishment' as more die of starvation

Ten Palestinians, including two children, have died from starvation in the past 24 hours, the health authorities in Gaza said yesterday, as Pope Leo XIV demanded that Israel stop its "collective punishment" of the population in the besieged territory.

- William Christou

At least 313 people have died from hunger, including 119 children, since the war in Gaza began and Israel intensified its siege on the Palestinian territory. Last week a UN-backed monitoring body confirmed that famine was occurring in Gaza.

As humanitarian conditions continued to worsen, the pope called for a suspension of hostilities.

"I beg for a permanent cease-fire to be reached, the safe entry of humanitarian aid to be facilitated and humanitarian law to be fully respected," Leo said. He referred to international law and its "prohibition of collective punishment, indiscriminate use of force and the forced displacement of the population". The pope was interrupted twice by applause as he called for a ceasefire in front of thousands of people in the Vatican auditorium.

The head of Save the Children said yesterday that starving children in Gaza were now so weak they did not even cry.

"When there is not enough food, children become acutely malnourished, and then they die slowly and painfully. This, in simple terms, is what famine is," Inger Ashing told the United Nations security council in New York.

She went on to describe what happens when children die of hunger, as the body first consumes its own fat and then consumes its own muscles and vital organs.