185 Palestinians died of starvation in August alone — the deadliest month from hunger since Israel’s war on the enclave began nearly two years ago, the Gaza Health Ministry reported Tuesday.

In a statement, the ministry said among the victims were at least 12 children.

Health officials said 70 of the deaths occurred after the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) formally designated Gaza a famine zone last month, underscoring the rapid deterioration of living conditions.

According to the ministry, more than 43,000 children under the age of five are suffering from malnutrition, while 55,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women are in urgent need of nutritional support.

Officials also noted that 67 percent of pregnant women are now anemic — the highest rate documented in years.

Health authorities cautioned that without an immediate flow of food and medical aid, the death toll will rise sharply in the coming weeks as hunger tightens its grip on the enclave.

Since October 2023, Israel’s military campaign has killed over 63,500 Palestinians and left Gaza’s health and food systems in ruins, driving the enclave to the brink of famine.