Newborn babies in Gaza are facing a silent but deadly crisis, as Israel’s continued blockade prevents the entry of essential baby formula, leaving hospitals overwhelmed and families in despair. Doctors warn that infants under six months, entirely dependent on specialised formula, are now dying from hunger and preventable illnesses.

At Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, Dr. Asaad Al-Nawajaa described the situation as catastrophic. “These babies rely entirely on Formula No. 1. Without it, their health collapses,” he said. The result: rising cases of malnutrition, severe infections, and gastrointestinal disorders, all rooted in the absence of something as basic as infant milk.

In Gaza City, Al-Rantisi Paediatric Hospital has declared a total shortage. Its emergency appeal this week warned that dozens of malnourished babies may not survive the coming days. Compounding the crisis is the widespread starvation affecting nursing mothers, many of whom can no longer produce milk due to hunger and illness.

Gaza’s Ministry of Health reports that at least 60 children have died from starvation or related complications since January alone. Most of them were under a year old.
“This is not a shortage, it’s a siege,” said a health ministry spokesperson. “Blocking baby formula is not just a war crime, it’s a deliberate act of collective punishment targeting the most vulnerable.”

Medical staff across Gaza are appealing for urgent international intervention, demanding the immediate entry of baby formula and neonatal supplies. For Gaza’s newborns, survival now depends not only on milk, but on whether the world chooses to break the silence.