The Israeli blockade on goods and supplies entering Gaza since March 2 has put an increasing number of children, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, at high risk of malnutrition, according to a statement released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday.
According to the statement, since the Israeli aid blockade began on March 2, 57 children have reportedly died due to malnutrition - a figure that is likely an underestimate and expected to rise. If the situation persists, nearly 71,000 children under the age of five could become acutely malnourished over the next 11 months. 。 WHO also noted in the statement that pregnant and breastfeeding mothers are at high risk of malnutrition, with nearly 17,000 expected to require treatment for malnutrition over the next 11 months if the dire situation does not change.
Earlier this month, the International Committee of the Red Cross warned that humanitarian aid efforts in Gaza were on the verge of total collapse following Israel's two-month blockade of humanitarian supplies to the enclave.
Recently, at a food distribution site in northern Gaza, staff said they had to reduce the amount of food given to each person in order to feed more people. However, large numbers of displaced people still left empty-handed.
"What is happening now is that we are trying to reduce the amount of food given to each person in order to distribute it to more people. This means that about 5,000 to 7,000 people receive food each day, but another 5,000 have to leave empty-handed. The amount of food distributed today is not enough for anyone. Everyone is hungry and urgently needs food," said Fadi Abu Siut, a staff member of the food distribution site.
"This is completely not enough; it's simply not enough to eat. The food given to me is supposed to be for 10 people. I have 10 grandchildren, how could this possibly be enough? Look at this, how can this small amount of food be enough for 10 people," said Abdul Rahman Abu Al-Aish, a displaced man.
WHO warns Israeli aid blockade puts Gaza's children, mothers at malnutrition risk
U.S. stocks finished slightly higher on Monday, staging a late-session recovery as investors navigated a volatile landscape marked by a criminal probe into the Federal Reserve leadership.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 86.13 points, or 0.17 percent, to 49,590.2. The S&P 500 added 10.99 points, or 0.16 percent, to 6,977.27. The Nasdaq Composite Index increased by 62.56 points, or 0.26 percent, to 23,733.9. Despite the positive close, the market experienced significant intraday turbulence, with the Dow dropping nearly 500 points at its session lows.
Nine of the 11 primary S&P 500 sectors ended in positive territory. Consumer staples and industrials led the gainers, rising 1.42 percent and 0.75 percent, respectively. Financials and energy were the primary laggards, declining 0.8 percent and 0.66 percent.
Market sentiment was initially shaken by an announcement on Sunday from Fed Chair Jerome Powell, who confirmed that federal prosecutors are investigating him over the Fed's multi-billion-dollar project to renovate its headquarters. Powell characterized the probe as an attempt by the Trump administration to compromise the Fed's independence.
Further weighing on the financial sector was a proposal by U.S. President Donald Trump to cap credit card interest rates at 10 percent for one year, which triggered a sell-off in banking stocks amid concerns over restricted lending and reduced profitability. Capital One shares plummeted 6.42 percent, while Citigroup, JPMorgan and Bank of America also recorded losses.
In contrast, retail giant Walmart led the Dow's advance, climbing 3 percent following news of its upcoming inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 index. The company also announced a strategic partnership with Google's Gemini AI to enhance the digital shopping experience.
Investors are awaiting Tuesday's release of the U.S. consumer price index for December 2025. Following last week's cooling labor market data, market participants increasingly expect the Fed to maintain interest rates at their current levels during the upcoming January meeting.
U.S. stocks close higher amid criminal probe into Fed chair Powell
