Two children were among eight Palestinians who died from malnutrition in Gaza in the past 24 hours, health officials reported Saturday, underscoring the deepening toll of Israel’s blockade on the enclave.

The deaths bring the total number of people who have succumbed to hunger since the crisis began to 281, including 114 children.

Munir al-Bursh, director general of Gaza’s Health Ministry, said on X that famine is quietly consuming the health of civilians, stripping children of their chance to survive, and transforming tents and hospitals into daily sites of suffering.

Children have been disproportionately affected by the food shortages, with aid agencies warning of irreversible harm as hunger spreads. Families describe hospitals filled with emaciated infants and toddlers, many of them beyond the reach of medical care.

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has left nearly 62,300 people dead since October 2023, according to local authorities, with famine adding another layer of devastation to a population already facing bombardment, displacement, and collapse of basic services.