As famine begins to grip the entire territory of Gaza and a humanitarian crisis already escalated by Israel’s blockade tightens, our Palestinian friends cannot supply relief. The Gaza Health Ministry just confirmed the first ten deaths from malnutrition, illustrating the dire state. More than 100 humanitarian organizations are sounding the alarm about a looming “mass starvation” in the territory. Familiar organizations such as Doctors Without Borders (MSF), Save the Children, and Oxfam are at the forefront.
In just the past 24 hours, Gaza’s hospitals have been forced to declare ten more deaths due to famine and malnutrition. As the conflict has intensified, civilian casualties have surged. Health authorities say that at least 21 people have been killed by Israeli strikes. The Gaza civil defense agency says these strikes have killed 17 people in the last day. In the midst of all this madness, health workers in Gaza are struggling to provide life-saving care. Meanwhile, their own health is deteriorating due to extreme lack of food.
Dr. Mohammed Abu Selmia, director of al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City, expressed the growing desperation among healthcare workers: “Staff have not received any aid or meals in the past 48 hours.” When doctors and nurses are weak themselves and cannot provide emergency medical care because they are hungry, it is a desperate situation. This bombardment, when combined with Israeli restrictions and bureaucratic delays, has created a situation of chaos, starvation, and death throughout Gaza.
Palestinians suffering from severe acute malnutrition are more desperate to go out into the world and take life-threatening chances in search of nourishment. Since the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation shifted food delivery to air drops in late May, many hundreds have perished while pursuing their basic sustenance needs. The crisis deepens with each passing day. When millions of families can no longer reach basic necessities, hope gives way to despair for all who find themselves in the crossfire.
International responses have been mixed, with France’s Foreign Ministry clearly stating that the famine in Gaza is directly caused by Israel’s blockade. The French ministry added that, “France strongly condemns the extension of the Israeli offensive to the centre of Gaza.” Directive evacuation orders, they wrote, have resulted in immediate and large-scale displacement, while complicating the ability of dozens of aid organizations to help.
Despite international concern, Israel has not officially acknowledged the existence of starvation within Gaza but has indicated that action is required to stabilize the humanitarian situation. One U.S. official said, “We have not declared a famine at this time. We know that it’s important to act—act now—to bring some stability to the growing humanitarian crisis.”
Regional powers including Qatar and Egypt, as well as the United States, are reportedly working to draw Israeli and Hamas negotiators back to the table. Yet, their efforts are now at a standstill. On the surface, the conflict appears intractable. As The New York Times reports, analysts warn that neither Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor Hamas leaders want to push for a rapid end, both facing political repercussions. Karim Bitar, a lecturer at Paris’s Sciences Po university, put it brutally. He underscored that, for urgent domestic political reasons, neither side really wants a quick result — or a long-term, sustainable ceasefire.
While the international community remains paralyzed and conditions worsen by the hour, voices from inside Gaza are crying out for action. Statements from Hamas reflect the growing desperation: “People are dying of hunger and malnutrition, and famine is making its deadly presence felt in the faces of children, mothers, and the elderly.” They called for increased international recognition and response. As they posted on social media, “May the next days be a rallying shout for the end of this occupation and a shame to those who don’t speak out.”
Humanitarian experts tell us that the current system just cannot live under this stress. One expert noted, “The humanitarian system cannot run on false promises. Humanitarians cannot operate on shifting timelines or wait for political commitments that fail to deliver access.”
The nexus of hunger and warfare has produced a tragic situation for families in Gaza. I hear many people say they are disheartened and fatigued by the constant fighting. It’s forced me to stop my work many times,” said one local resident. I go through these pains merely to feed my family, friends, loved ones, and you.