The humanitarian situation in Gaza is at a breaking point. The region is experiencing high levels of food insecurity and increasing excess mortality. The health ministry in Gaza said it was a terrible day. In the past 24 hours, starvation and malnutrition have resulted in the deaths of 14 children. This shocking figure highlights the desperate situation the people have been forced to endure.
Since April, over 28,000 children have received outpatient treatment for acute malnutrition. This mind-boggling figure underscores the toll of the food crisis that we are experiencing right now. Of these, over 3,000 children fall into the category of severe malnutrition. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) initiative has characterized the situation in Gaza as one where “the worst-case scenario of famine is unfolding.”
As per IPC, unprecedented level of hunger. Two famine thresholds already met in the region. More than 90 percent of Gaza’s population is highly food insecure. Entire communities are at a greater risk of famine now than at any time in the last 10 years. It is no surprise that our own United Nations has raised these very concerns. They warn that Palestinians in Gaza risk starvation, with humanitarian conditions rapidly deteriorating.
The current war, now approaching two years, has already resulted in more than 60,000 Palestinian deaths. Women and children have endured the brunt of this sad reality. The Israeli military dictates the flow of all aid into Gaza. Nor have their restrictions contributed to the worsening starvation crisis in the region—which has left more than 9 million people starving. The UN has accused Israel for failing to provide enough food aid and for making collection difficult.
In the midst of this deepening catastrophe, Spain has announced it will air-drop food aid to Gaza. This operation will assist between 4-5,000 people and is scheduled for the first or second week of August. Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares Bueno described the effort as “some airdrops with food stuff, but that’s just a drop of water in the ocean.”
At the same time, there is growing friction between Israel and the international community. Israel’s radical Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir inciting killing Palestinians may be declared unwanted visitors to the Netherlands. Their incitement of violence against Palestinians and support for illegal settlements has led to such a decision.
“We have free speech in this country but we strongly reject this claim.” – Israeli government spokesperson
More than a month later the situation is still urgent, as humanitarian organizations urge Congress to act now. Tirza Leibowitz is Deputy Director and Director of Programs at Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI). She urged the international community to respond strongly to the crisis, calling it an obligation “due to humanity.”
World Health Organization chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus drew attention to the severity of the situation, asserting, “I don’t know what you would call it other than mass starvation, and it’s man-made, and that’s very clear.”
Even as the evidence continues to mount, showing there is a humanitarian disaster, Israeli officials continue to defy reality. National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir remarked, “even if I’m banned from entering all of Europe, I will continue to act for our country and demand that we dismantle Hamas and support our soldiers.”
As the Israel-Palestine conflict continues to play out in devastating and tragic ways, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is at the center of global focus. The combination of military actions, restrictions on aid, and escalating mortality rates paints a grim picture for the future of millions living in Gaza.
