Israel Accused by MSF of Manufacturing Malnutrition Crisis in Gaza

Medical Charity Doctors Without Borders Reports Rise in Malnutrition Cases in Gaza Strip

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has identified its first cases of child malnutrition in the Gaza Strip, just three months into Israel’s ongoing assault on the territory. The medical charity analyzed data from four health facilities in Gaza that were administered or supported by MSF between late 2024 and early 2026.

According to MSF, the restrictions on supplies of essential goods imposed by Israel have led to a significant increase in malnutrition among pregnant women. This has resulted in higher mortality rates among babies born to mothers affected by malnutrition. The charity found that more than half of the women cared for at two hospitals suffered from malnutrition during their pregnancy between June 2025 and January 2026.

The MSF analysis also revealed that 25 percent of these women remained malnourished at the time of delivery, with 90 percent of babies born under those conditions being premature. Furthermore, 84 percent of these babies had a low birth weight, which is a significant risk factor for mortality and long-term health problems.

MSF attributes the rise in malnutrition to Israel’s severe restrictions on supplies of essential goods and its attacks on civilian infrastructure. The charity notes that malnutrition was almost non-existent before Israel launched its assault on Gaza in October 2023.

The organization also reports that food distribution centers set up by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, a US- and Israel-backed scheme to oversee aid distribution, are “militarized” and have limited functionality. MSF has identified cases of child malnutrition for the first time since January 2024, highlighting the severity of the crisis in the Gaza Strip.

The United Nations estimates that more than 60 percent of Palestinians in Gaza are homeless, with a recent joint assessment by the UN, the World Bank, and the European Union estimating it would cost over $71 billion to rebuild housing. A ceasefire has been in place since October last year, but Israel’s continued actions have raised concerns about its adherence to the truce.

Source: Al Jazeera