'Starvation is knocking on every door' in Gaza as dozens of children die of hunger, officials say

At least 101 people are known to have died of malnutrition during the conflict in Gaza, including 80 children, most of them in recent weeks, according to Palestinian officials.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said malnourishment is soaring and "starvation is knocking on every door" in Gaza, describing the situation as a "horror show". Latest updates on the Middle East Israel controls all supplies entering Gaza and has denied it is responsible for food shortages.

Some food stocks in the Palestinian territory have run out since Israel cut off all supplies in March and then lifted the blockade in May with new measures it said were needed to prevent aid from being diverted to militant groups. Israel has blamed the UN for failing to protect aid it says is stolen by Hamas and other groups.

The fighters deny stealing it. 'There is nothing left' The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has said its aid stocks are completely depleted in Gaza and some of its staff are starving, with the organisation accusing Israel of paralysing its work.

"Our last tent, our last food parcel, our last relief items have been distributed. There is nothing left," said Jan Egeland, the council's secretary-general.

The NRC said that for the last 145 days, it has not been able to get hundreds of truckloads of tents, water, sanitation, food and education materials into Gaza. COGAT, the Israeli military aid coordination agency, and Israeli authorities did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Israel denies accusations it is preventing aid from reaching Gaza. Aid workers 'fainting due to hunger' The NRC comments echo those made earlier by the head of the UN Palestinian Refugee Agency (UNRWA), who said doctors and aid workers have been fainting on duty due to hunger and exhaustion.

"Caretakers, including UNRWA colleagues in Gaza, are also in need of care now. Doctors, nurses, journalists, humanitarians, among them.

UNRWA staff are hungry. Many are now fainting due to hunger and exhaustion while performing their duties," UNRWA commissioner general Philippe Lazzarini said.

He warned that seeking food has become "as deadly as the bombardments.