Humanitarian Crisis in Gaza Deepens as Starvation Looms

As humanitarian organizations warn of mass starvation in Gaza, the situation deteriorates with reports of severe malnutrition and increasing deaths. Israel, however, denies responsibility and blames the aid groups for propaganda.

More than 100 international humanitarian organizations and rights groups are sounding the alarm over an escalating hunger crisis in Gaza, urging governments to take immediate action. Notable signatories like Médecins Sans Frontières, Save the Children, and Oxfam report that many people they support are “wasting away.” Their statement comes as Gaza's Hamas-run health ministry confirms that ten more Palestinians have succumbed to malnutrition in the last 24 hours, raising the death toll since Sunday to 43.

Israel, controlling the flow of supplies into Gaza, dismissed the organizations' claims, accusing them of fostering Hamas propaganda. The severity of the situation is highlighted by the UN's reports of hospitals treating individuals suffering from severe malnutrition, while others reportedly collapse from hunger in the streets.

Local leaders have returned from rare visits to Gaza expressing deep concern, and according to aid workers, citizens now experience extreme desperation. “As the Israeli government's siege starves the people of Gaza, aid workers are now joining the same food lines,” the humanitarian groups stated. With existing supplies entirely depleted, aid organizations are witnessing their own teams deteriorating from starvation.

Israel's blockade of aid deliveries, imposed in early March, resumed military offensives against Hamas shortly thereafter. While there was a partial easing after nearly two months, the ongoing availability of food, medical care, and fuel has worsened dramatically. Doctors report rising cases of acute malnutrition, especially among vulnerable populations like children and the elderly, resulting in escalating health crises.

Dr. Ahmad al-Farra, head of pediatrics at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, noted that food shortages have persisted for days. Some children arrive malnourished and, disturbingly, some do not survive their hospital stays due to a lack of basic nutrition. “We feared reaching this critical juncture—and now we have,” he stated.

Compounding the crisis, inflation has caused food prices to soar, leaving many families unable to afford essentials. Reports also indicate over 1,050 Palestinians have died seeking food since late May amid chaos surrounding aid distribution.

The UN has registered significant difficulties in delivering essential supplies, with tons of food and medical resources stuck in warehouses due to bureaucratic hurdles and operational complications exacerbated by violence in the area. Aid organizations stress the continuous need for substantive action, calling for a ceasefire and unrestricted access for humanitarian efforts.

In contrast, Israel claims it adheres to international laws and facilitates aid entry while ensuring it doesn't benefit Hamas. The Israeli military asserts that it has permitted the entry of thousands of lorries carrying humanitarian aid but attributes the supply issues to UN agencies.

The humanitarian organizations demand not only an urgent ceasefire and lifting of restrictions but also point to the need for a return to a UN-led humanitarian response, citing the safety of locals in aid collection as a growing concern. Israel's foreign ministry has rejected their statements, suggesting they undermine prospects for a ceasefire and negotiations currently taking place in Qatar amidst the escalating violence resulting from the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023. With tens of thousands dead in Gaza since then, the mounting humanitarian crisis continues to evolve, drawing international attention and urgent calls for relief efforts.