#famine

#famine

Since October's ceasefire, which meant Israel would allow some - but not nearly enough - aid trucks to enter our besieged Strip, people in Gaza have desperately been eating, whenever possible, what they had been deprived of previously. Yet, as a result, many have developed " refeeding syndrome," which is a serious medical condition. Refeeding syndrome occurs when food is suddenly reintroduced after a prolonged period of starvation - and Israel has subjected those of us in Gaza to such periods on multiple occasions.

Fighting has continued to intensify in Sudan despite a ceasefire as Rapid Support Forces (RSF) push eastward in its battle with the Sudanese army. On Thursday, the RSF launched drone strikes in the central Kordofan region, a strategic corridor between Darfur and Sudan. A statement from the Sudanese army said Thursday's attack targeted an army headquarters, an airport and a dam. The strikes took place in Merowe, an area that has been under army control for months.

More than a year has passed since the International Court of Justice, the United Nations' highest judicial body, issued its first order in the landmark case brought against Israel by South Africa, which contends that Israel has been committing acts of genocide in its war in Gaza. The ICJ found that "with respect to the right of the Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from acts of genocide...and the right of South Africa to seek Israel's compliance," South Africa's case was "plausible."

Israel announced on Friday that it has begun the "initial stages" of its siege on Gaza City, declaring the capital city a "dangerous combat zone" and ending its daytime pauses for the supposed purpose of allowing the passage of humanitarian aid, despite a famine declaration across the area last week. "We have begun the preliminary operations and the first stages of the attack on Gaza City, and already now IDF forces are holding the outskirts of Gaza City," Israel's military spokesperson told reporters.

The Palestinian girl is one of tens of thousands of children facing malnutrition in Gaza as Israel's man-made famine deepens with the Israeli military stepping up its assault on Gaza City. Mai's mother, Nadia Abu Arar, says her child was once lively and joyous, but she is now fighting for her life after drastically losing weight. The doctors told me that she isn't suffering from any disease or from any past condition.