Israel’s ongoing blockade of Gaza has led to a catastrophic famine, with the enclave’s Health Ministry reporting 122 deaths from starvation and malnutrition, including 83 children.
The crisis, exacerbated by Israel’s near-total aid restrictions since March, has left hospitals overwhelmed, recording nine new starvation deaths in a single day.
UNICEF warns that Gaza will exhaust its supply of specialized therapeutic food for malnourished children by mid-August, threatening thousands of lives.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) reports that 25% of children and pregnant or breastfeeding women screened at its clinics last week were malnourished, with severe cases tripling in two weeks.
Israel’s policy of limiting aid, including blocking 500 daily aid trucks and 50 fuel trucks demanded by Gaza’s government, has created a humanitarian disaster.
The blockade has not only starved Gaza’s population but also triggered a 150% surge in waterborne diseases, according to Oxfam, with acute watery diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, and jaundice cases spiking dramatically.
Israel’s restrictions on food, water, and medical supplies have turned Gaza into a “petri dish of disease,” with aid piling up in warehouses while crossings like Karem Abu Salem remain choked.
Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) claims aid awaits UN collection, but UNRWA counters that Israel refuses entry to food supplies sufficient for three months.
The blockade’s impact is compounded by Israel’s attacks on aid seekers, with 1,092 Palestinians killed at aid sites since May 27, including nine in the past 24 hours.
Gaza’s Government Media Office has demanded an international investigation into Israel’s “systematic starvation crime,” calling for the arrest of Israeli officials.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman, Esmaeil Baghaei, suggested Israel’s starvation policy was premeditated, citing its 2021 UN vote against recognizing food access as a human right.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the situation a “humanitarian catastrophe,” criticizing Israel’s denial of aid and killing of civilians seeking food.
AL Jazeera reported that USAID analysis found no evidence of Hamas stealing US-funded aid, undermining Israel’s justification for restricting humanitarian supplies and backing armed private aid operations.
The blockade’s toll, including 59,676 deaths and 143,965 injuries since October 2023, continues to draw global condemnation.