Three-year-old Hasan Barbakh’s death is a stark reminder of Gaza’s ongoing humanitarian catastrophe, where Israeli-imposed restrictions extend beyond bombs to a cruel siege that suffocates life itself. Hasan died from severe illness compounded by acute malnutrition, denied critical medical treatment abroad due to Israel’s stringent travel bans.

His tragic fate is not isolated. Hundreds of Palestinian children face similar barriers, blocked from essential healthcare by a deliberately collapsed medical system. Despite urgent appeals from Hasan’s family, Israel’s blockade prevented his transfer, turning desperation into death.

UN agencies report alarming spikes in child malnutrition and health crises, while over 70% of Gaza’s medical facilities remain inoperative, leaving tens of thousands without care. Doctors warn that denied medical referrals through crossings like Rafah and Kerem Shalom lead to preventable deaths daily.

Hasan’s story exposes the deadly consequences of policies that weaponise healthcare access, revealing a genocide that targets not just bodies but the very means to survive.