As malnutrition rates soar, international calls for aid flow into Gaza intensify amid accusations against Israel for exacerbating the crisis.
**Starvation Crisis Deepens in Gaza as UN Reports Dire Conditions**
**Starvation Crisis Deepens in Gaza as UN Reports Dire Conditions**
An alarming report from the UN highlights the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with nearly a third of the population going days without food.
Almost one in three individuals in Gaza are facing severe food scarcity, according to a warning from the World Food Programme (WFP). The agency has stated that malnutrition is surging, with around 90,000 women and children in immediate need of treatment. Reports of starvation-related deaths have increased, with nine additional fatalities due to malnutrition reported on Friday, raising the total to 122 since the outbreak of conflict in the region.
Israel, which regulates all supply entry into Gaza, asserts that there are no restrictions on the inflow of aid, attributing the food shortages to Hamas. An Israeli official mentioned the possibility of airdrops for aid in the upcoming days, although aid groups have previously deemed this method inefficient for meeting the substantial needs in Gaza. Reports have emerged that the United Arab Emirates and Jordan plan to assist with these airdrops, but a senior official from Jordan indicated that military authorization from Israel is still pending.
International pressure is mounting, with Germany, France, and the UK issuing a joint statement demanding immediate lifting of aid restrictions and cessation of the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, urging Israel to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law. The statement condemned the withholding of necessary humanitarian assistance to civilians as unacceptable.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres criticized the global community for its inaction regarding the plight of Palestinians, articulating the "indifference and inaction" plaguing many nations. He noted that over 1,000 Palestinians have been reported killed while attempting to access food since the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began its operations in May.
A retired US contractor for the GHF accused the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and US personnel of engaging in war crimes while using unprecedented force against civilians during aid distribution. However, the GHF described these allegations as lies from a former employee dismissed for misconduct.
Amidst these developments, the status of ongoing ceasefire and hostage negotiations remains uncertain after the US and Israel have withdrawn their teams from talks in Qatar. US President Donald Trump stated that Hamas seemed uninterested in reaching an agreement, while Hamas officials expressed surprise at these remarks and maintained that negotiations have not ceased, expecting the Israeli delegation to return next week.
Since October 7, 2023, when Hamas initiated an attack that resulted in significant Israeli casualties, Israel has intensified military operations in Gaza, leading to over 59,000 deaths in the region. The overall humanitarian situation has deteriorated further due to a blockade of aid supplies that began in early March, which was only slightly alleviated amid famine warnings from global experts. The ongoing shortages of food, medical supplies, and fuel have forced many families into displacement and worsened living conditions, with estimates suggesting that over 90% of homes in Gaza are either damaged or destroyed.
Israel, which regulates all supply entry into Gaza, asserts that there are no restrictions on the inflow of aid, attributing the food shortages to Hamas. An Israeli official mentioned the possibility of airdrops for aid in the upcoming days, although aid groups have previously deemed this method inefficient for meeting the substantial needs in Gaza. Reports have emerged that the United Arab Emirates and Jordan plan to assist with these airdrops, but a senior official from Jordan indicated that military authorization from Israel is still pending.
International pressure is mounting, with Germany, France, and the UK issuing a joint statement demanding immediate lifting of aid restrictions and cessation of the humanitarian disaster in Gaza, urging Israel to comply with its obligations under international humanitarian law. The statement condemned the withholding of necessary humanitarian assistance to civilians as unacceptable.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres criticized the global community for its inaction regarding the plight of Palestinians, articulating the "indifference and inaction" plaguing many nations. He noted that over 1,000 Palestinians have been reported killed while attempting to access food since the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began its operations in May.
A retired US contractor for the GHF accused the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and US personnel of engaging in war crimes while using unprecedented force against civilians during aid distribution. However, the GHF described these allegations as lies from a former employee dismissed for misconduct.
Amidst these developments, the status of ongoing ceasefire and hostage negotiations remains uncertain after the US and Israel have withdrawn their teams from talks in Qatar. US President Donald Trump stated that Hamas seemed uninterested in reaching an agreement, while Hamas officials expressed surprise at these remarks and maintained that negotiations have not ceased, expecting the Israeli delegation to return next week.
Since October 7, 2023, when Hamas initiated an attack that resulted in significant Israeli casualties, Israel has intensified military operations in Gaza, leading to over 59,000 deaths in the region. The overall humanitarian situation has deteriorated further due to a blockade of aid supplies that began in early March, which was only slightly alleviated amid famine warnings from global experts. The ongoing shortages of food, medical supplies, and fuel have forced many families into displacement and worsened living conditions, with estimates suggesting that over 90% of homes in Gaza are either damaged or destroyed.
