In brief
Recent reports indicate that nearly a third of the population in Gaza is going days without food, as the humanitarian crisis escalates amidst ongoing conflict. The UN has emphasized the urgent need for international action to alleviate the suffering of civilians.
Almost a third of the residents in Gaza are reportedly going days without food, according to a serious warning from the World Food Programme (WFP) of the United Nations. The organization stated that malnutrition is advancing significantly, with 90,000 women and children requiring urgent medical attention. Concerns about starvation have been escalating this week, with the Hamas-run health ministry reporting an additional nine deaths due to malnutrition on Friday, raising the total to 122 since the conflict intensified. Israeli authorities assert that they are not imposing restrictions on aid deliveries and blame Hamas for the worsening nutrition situation in Gaza. An Israeli security official indicated that airdrops of humanitarian aid might be permitted in the forthcoming days; however, aid organizations have previously cautioned that this method is ineffective for delivering supplies to the region. Despite local media reports suggesting that the United Arab Emirates and Jordan would undertake recent supply drops, a high-ranking Jordanian official mentioned that their military was still awaiting clearance from Israel for this action. The United Nations has criticized this approach, labeling it a "distraction to inaction" from the Israeli government.The rising humanitarian crisis in Gaza has captured the attention of the international community, prompting joint statements from Germany, France, and the UK urging Israel to "immediately lift restrictions on aid flow." They called for an end to the severe humanitarian disaster and emphasized Israel’s duty to conform to international humanitarian law. On Friday, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the global lack of action in response to the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, expressing his sorrow over "the level of indifference and inaction" from many around the world. He reported that over 1,000 Palestinians have died attempting to access food since May 27, as resistance to humanitarian assistance attempts escalated.An American security contractor, who worked for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation during May and June of 2025, alleged he witnessed "war crimes," claiming to have observed the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and U.S. contractors employing lethal force against civilians amidst food distribution efforts. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation dismissed these claims, branding them "categorically false" and stemming from a disgruntled former employee who had been let go for misconduct.In parallel, discussions between the U.S. and Israel regarding a potential ceasefire and hostage release have become uncertain, with indications that U.S. President Donald Trump believes Hamas is uninterested in negotiating. In contrast, a senior Hamas official reassured that negotiations had not fallen through, suggesting a possible return of the Israeli delegation to Doha next week for discussions.Since the conflict erupted following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, resulting in around 1,200 Israeli casualties and as many as 251 hostages, the situation in Gaza has dramatically deteriorated, with reported death tolls exceeding 59,000 by the Hamas-run health ministry. Israel’s blockade on aid delivery started in March, with military operations resuming shortly after a two-month ceasefire ended amidst calls for the release of Israeli hostages. Despite a brief easing of the blockade after ongoing warnings of famine, critical shortages in food, medicine, and fuel persist, with a vast majority of Gaza's population facing displacement or destruction of their homes.
