Gazans ‘Wasting Away’ as Mass Starvation Spreads, Humanitarian Groups Warn A Humanitarian Catastrophe Unfolding in Gaza

 

The Gaza Strip is facing an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with mass starvation spreading rapidly across the region, according to warnings from over 100 humanitarian organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Save the Children, Oxfam, and Amnesty International. The crisis, described as a “man-made famine,” has been exacerbated by a near-total blockade imposed by the Israeli government, leaving millions of Palestinians on the brink of survival. As aid workers and civilians alike struggle to access basic necessities like food, water, and medical supplies, the situation has reached a critical point, with reports of children dying from malnutrition and adults collapsing in the streets from hunger and dehydration.

The Scale of the Crisis

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), nearly a quarter of Gaza’s 2.1 million population is facing famine-like conditions, with approximately 100,000 women and children suffering from severe acute malnutrition requiring urgent treatment. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) warned in December 2023 that famine was imminent in northern Gaza, projecting that by May 2024, 70% of the population in North Gaza and Gaza Governorates would be in IPC Phase 5 (Catastrophe), characterized by extreme deprivation of food, starvation, and death.

The Gaza Ministry of Health, run by Hamas, reported that at least 111 Palestinians, including 80 children, have died from malnutrition and starvation in recent weeks, with 10 deaths recorded in the past 24 hours as of July 23, 2025. Hospitals are overwhelmed, with Dr. Ahmad al-Farra, head of pediatrics at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, reporting no food availability for three consecutive days. Children arriving at his unit exhibit varying stages of starvation, with some too weak to survive.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has described the situation as a “worst-case scenario,” with food stocks depleted and water access nearly impossible. Aid workers report witnessing desperate scenes, including violent fights over water trucks and people burning from explosions without water to extinguish the flames. The blockade, which began in March 2025, has sealed all entry points, preventing the delivery of humanitarian aid and commercial supplies.

A Blockade Strangling Survival

The Israeli government’s restrictions on aid delivery have been widely criticized as the primary driver of the crisis. Warehouses just outside Gaza, and even within the territory, are filled with tons of untouched food, water, medical supplies, and fuel, but humanitarian organizations are blocked from accessing or distributing them due to bureaucratic delays, restricted access, and military-controlled distribution models. The UN has repeatedly highlighted the difficulty of obtaining Israeli authorization to transport aid through military zones, compounded by damaged roads, fuel shortages, and looting by armed gangs.

Israel insists it facilitates aid entry while preventing supplies from reaching Hamas, claiming that 4,500 lorry loads, including 2,500 tonnes of baby food and high-calorie nutrition, have entered Gaza over the past two months. However, the UN and aid agencies argue that this is a fraction of the pre-blockade average of 500–600 trucks per day. The Israeli military body Cogat blames the UN for a “collection bottleneck,” asserting that 950 lorry loads of aid are waiting on the Gazan side of crossings like Kerem Shalom and Zikim. Aid agencies counter that coordination with Israeli authorities remains a significant obstacle, and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a US- and Israel-backed distribution system, has been criticized for lacking transparency and bypassing established UN-led mechanisms.

The UN has also reported that over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces while attempting to access food at distribution sites since the GHF began operations in late May 2025. The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights has condemned these incidents, noting that 875 deaths were recorded by July 13, with 674 occurring near GHF sites. The starvation of civilians as a method of warfare is considered a war crime under international law, a charge underscored by the International Criminal Court’s issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on November 21, 2024, for their alleged responsibility in using starvation as a method of warfare.

The Human Toll: Stories of Desperation

The psychological and physical toll on Gaza’s population is profound. An aid worker providing psychosocial support shared a heartbreaking account: “Children tell their parents they want to go to heaven, because at least heaven has food.” Markets are empty, waste is piling up, and diseases like acute watery diarrhea are spreading due to lack of clean water and sanitation. Adults are reported collapsing in the streets, unable to withstand the combined effects of hunger and dehydration.

UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, has been banned from bringing food into Gaza for over four months, despite having enough supplies in nearby warehouses to feed the entire population for three months. The agency reports that food prices in Gaza have skyrocketed by over 4,000%, rendering basic necessities unaffordable for most. Families are going days without meals, and UNRWA staff themselves are fainting from hunger, trapped in the same desperate conditions as the people they serve.

The blockade’s impact extends beyond food scarcity. The WHO has struggled to sustain 16 outpatient and three inpatient malnutrition treatment centers due to the lack of medical supplies. The broader health system is collapsing, with hospitals unable to treat the influx of patients suffering from starvation-related illnesses.

International Response and Calls for Action

The international community is under increasing pressure to act. Over 115 humanitarian organizations have issued a joint statement demanding an immediate and permanent ceasefire, the opening of all land crossings, and the restoration of a UN-led humanitarian response. They argue that piecemeal measures, such as airdrops or temporary aid deals, are insufficient and serve as a “smokescreen for inaction.” The groups have called for states to halt arms transfers to Israel and pursue concrete measures to end the siege.

The European Commission has criticized Israel for failing to implement an agreement to increase aid, noting that only 132 trucks and 80–120,000 liters of fuel entered Gaza between July 17–21, 2025, far below what is needed. Several EU member states, including France, Spain, and Ireland, have pushed for sanctions against Israel, while Brazil has announced its intervention in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

The United States, while rejecting the ICC’s arrest warrants, has sent envoy Steve Witkoff to Europe and potentially the Middle East to negotiate a ceasefire and humanitarian corridor. However, critics argue that the US has been hesitant to apply meaningful pressure on Israel, despite acknowledging the worsening hunger crisis.

A Man-Made Famine and the Path Forward

Experts like Alex de Waal have described the crisis as unparalleled in its scale and speed, surpassing any man-made famine in the last 75 years. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has warned that “widespread famine looms,” while UN special rapporteur for health Tlaleng Mofokeng has called it “deliberate starvation.” The blockade, combined with ongoing military operations, has created a cycle of “hope and heartbreak” for Palestinians, who are left waiting for aid and ceasefires that fail to materialize.

The path forward requires urgent action. Humanitarian organizations emphasize that famine can still be prevented with an immediate ceasefire, unrestricted access to aid, and the restoration of UN-led distribution systems. The UN has mechanisms in place to ensure aid reaches those in need, but these require Israeli cooperation to function effectively. Without decisive intervention, the death toll from starvation and related illnesses will continue to rise, leaving an indelible mark on the conscience of the international community.

As one agency representative poignantly stated, “Each morning, the same question echoes across Gaza: will I eat today?” The answer, for now, remains uncertain, as the world watches a preventable tragedy unfold in real time.