Netanyahu Faces Mounting Condemnation As Gaza Starvation Death Toll Rises
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing intensifying domestic and global backlash over his plans for a new Gaza offensive, as starvation deaths in the besieged Palestinian territory continue to mount under Israel’s relentless blockade and bombardment.
The planned military assault, announced by Tel Aviv on Friday, has been denounced by humanitarian agencies and foreign governments as a move that will deepen Gaza’s catastrophic humanitarian crisis.
At a press conference, Netanyahu dismissed mounting evidence of famine, insisting there was only “deprivation” and claiming “no one in Gaza would have survived after two years of war” if Israel were pursuing a “starvation policy.” He defended his aggressive military agenda, declaring Israel had “no choice” but to “finish the job” against Hamas and insisting “hundreds of aid trucks” had entered Gaza — a claim contradicted by aid agencies reporting severe shortages.
Netanyahu said his primary aim was to recover the remaining hostages and the bodies of those killed, asserting that military escalation “has the possibility” of securing their release. Israel believes 20 of the 50 remaining hostages are alive.
The remarks came as the United Nations Security Council convened an emergency session on the looming offensive. While the United States reiterated Israel’s “right to defend itself,” other Western states and U.N. officials condemned the plan as an assault on civilians already enduring mass starvation.
“This is no longer a looming hunger crisis — this is starvation, pure and simple,” said U.N. humanitarian coordination official Ramesh Rajasingham.
The Gaza Health Ministry reported Sunday that five more Palestinians — including two children — had died from malnutrition in the past 24 hours, bringing the official toll to 217 deaths, among them 100 children. Aid groups warn that the trickle of food arriving via air drops and limited truck convoys is grossly inadequate for Gaza’s population of over two million, imprisoned under Israel’s siege.
Tragedy struck Saturday when 14-year-old Muhannad Eid was killed by a falling aid package airdropped over Gaza. His brother, Muhammad Eid, condemned the method: “This is an aerial humiliation, not aid. We need protection. We want international protection.”
According to Gaza’s government media office, 23 people have died in aid-drop incidents since the war began 22 months ago. “We have repeatedly warned of the danger of these inhumane methods,” it said, urging the safe and sufficient delivery of aid via land crossings.
Since October 7, 2023, Tel Aviv’s genocidal war has killed more than 61,000 Palestinians — thousands of them children — in what has been described as a campaign of mass killing, collective punishment, and deliberate starvation.
