AP PHOTOS: Many in Gaza face malnutrition and hunger as blockade enters its third month

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Ahmed El-Sheikh Eid, 7, who shows signs of malnutrition, poses for a photo at his family tent at a camp for displaced Palestinians in Mawasi Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

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Rahma al-Qadi takes care for her 7-month-old daughter Sama, who was born with Down syndrome and suffers from malnutrition, at the malnutrition clinic in Nasser hospital, Khan Younis, Gaza, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

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Palestinian women care for their babies at the malnutrition clinic in Nasser hospital, Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

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Mona al-Raqab cares for her son Osama, 5, which she says his cystic fibrosis has worsened since the start of the war due to the lack of meat, fish and enzyme tablets to help him digest food, at a malnutrition clinic in Nasser hospital, Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

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Mona al-Raqab lifts the shirt of her 5-year-old son, Osama al-Raqab, revealing signs of malnutrition and worsening cystic fibrosis, exacerbated since the start of the war by the shortage of meat, fish, and enzyme tablets needed to help him digest food, as he receives treatment at the malnutrition clinic in Nasser hospital, Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday, May 1, 2025(AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

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Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza Strip, Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi)

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Wedad Abdelaal, whose 9-month-old son Khaled suffers from malnutrition, holds up a can of beans at her tent in a camp for displaced Palestinians in Mawasi Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Friday, May 2, 2025.” (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

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A Palestinian child carries a pot of soup received from a community kitchen in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, on Saturday, May 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

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Wedad Abdelaal and her husband Ammar , feed their 9 month old son Khaled, in their tent at a camp for displaced Palestinians in Mawasi Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

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Wedad Abdelaal, right, and her husband Ammar care for their 9-month-old son Khaled, at the malnutrition clinic in Nasser hospital, Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Thursday, May 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

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Wedad Abdelaal, right, and her 9-month-old son Khaled who is suffers from malnutrition and her children Ahmed, 7 and Maria, 4, both showing signs of malnutrition also, pose for a photo in their tent at a camp for displaced Palestinians in Mawasi, Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

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Children of the Abdelaal family share a plate of beans in a tent camp for displaced Palestinians in Mawasi Khan Younis, Gaza Strip, Friday, May 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Malnutrition and hunger are becoming increasingly prevalent in the Gaza Strip as Israel’s total blockade enters its third month. A shortage of food and supplies has driven the territory toward starvation, according to aid agencies. Supplies to treat and prevent malnutrition are depleted and quickly running out as documented cases of malnutrition rise.

The price of what little food is still available in the market is unaffordable for most in Gaza, where the United Nations says more than 80% of the population relies on aid.

Israel’s longest blockade on Gaza, which began March 2, has sparked a growing international outcry. But that has failed to convince Israel to open the borders. More groups accuse Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war. Israel, for its part, insists the blockade is necessary to pressure Hamas to release the hostages it still holds. Of the 59 hostages still in Gaza, 24 are believed to be still alive.

Israeli authorities did not immediately respond when asked to comment on accusations that Israel was using starvation as a weapon of war, but have previously said Gaza had enough aid after a surge in distribution during a two-month ceasefire, and accuse Hamas of diverting aid for its purposes. Humanitarian workers deny there is significant diversion, saying the U.N. monitors distribution strictly.

This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.