Gaza’s Civil Defence spokesperson Mahmoud Basil has told Al Jazeera that he is on hunger strike to show the world that Palestinians in the besieged enclave “have the right to life”.

“Our children are starving to death. All we ask is for humanitarian aid to be delivered, without any restriction or conditions,” he said, adding that the Israel and US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Fund has weaponised food, with aid seekers leaving its sites in body bags.

“The whole world must act, namely the human rights organisations […] against the genocide unfolding against the unarmed civilian population in Gaza,” he said.

“The whole world must act, from scholars, preachers, parliamentarians; they all must act, they must stage, protest, sit-ins, even hunger strikes.

“The main purpose for me to go into a hunger strike is that I witness children dying from starvation. I see mothers unable to feed their children, doctors and nurses unable to cater for their patients.”