- According to the World Food Programme, one-third of Gazans, on the brink of death, have gone without food for several days due to Israel’s deliberate blockade.
- International organisations warn of famine and collapse, with 90% of households being food insecure and over 1 million at risk of catastrophic hunger by mid-2025
A harrowing report from the World Food Programme (WFP) reveals that nearly one-third of Gaza’s population—approximately 700,000 people—are starving and haven’t eaten in several days due to severe food insecurity exacerbated by ongoing genocide and a deliberate blockade of humanitarian aid. This crisis is part of a broader humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza, where half the population (1.11 million people) is projected to face catastrophic hunger (IPC Phase 5) by mid-July 2025, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC). The situation is dire, with international organizations warning of an impending famine and a collapse in health and sanitation systems.
The root cause of this crisis is the ongoing ethnic cleansing and the Israeli government’s acknowledged blockade of aid since March 2025, a war crime, which has severely restricted the entry of food, medicine, fuel, and other essentials. This blockade, coupled with military operations, has led to what many international bodies and experts describe as a deliberate strategy of starvation. This constitutes a war crime and forms part of a broader pattern of genocide and ethnic cleansing against Palestinians. Israel must be held accountable for these actions, which have resulted in mass suffering, displacement, and death.
The Humanitarian Crisis
The WFP’s report, dated July 5, 2025, states that 90% of households in Gaza are experiencing acute food insecurity, with many going days without food. The IPC’s latest analysis, released on May 10, 2025, projects that 470,000 people (22% of the population) will face catastrophic hunger between May and September 2025, with the entire population at risk of severe food insecurity [Gaza Strip: Acute Food Insecurity Situation for 1 April – 10 May 2025 and Projection for 11 May – 30 September 2025]. The blockade has halted all aid and commercial supplies for over 60 days, leading to depleted stocks and an inability to meet basic survival needs.
Children and women are particularly affected, with 90,000 requiring urgent treatment for acute malnutrition. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported a collapse in Gaza’s health system, with only 16 out of 36 hospitals are partially functional, and outbreaks of diseases like polio and hepatitis A due to lack of clean water and medical supplies [Humanitarian Situation Update #306 | Gaza Strip]. UNICEF has warned of the risk of famine and disease, calling for immediate action to prevent a humanitarian collapse.
War Crimes and Genocide
The deliberate starvation of civilians in Gaza is widely recognized as a war crime under international humanitarian law. The Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court defines intentionally starving civilians by depriving them of objects indispensable to their survival, including willfully impeding relief supplies, as a war crime. Human Rights Watch has alleged Israel of using starvation as a method of warfare, a violation that demands accountability [Israel: Starvation Used as Weapon of War in Gaza | Human Rights Watch].
Furthermore, the situation in Gaza is part of a broader pattern of actions that many legal experts and international organizations have described as genocide. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has previously determined that Israel’s presence in Gaza and the West Bank is illegal, and there is ever growing evidence of genocide, including the systematic deprivation of necessities and the killing of civilians seeking aid. On July 21, 2025, more than 1,000 people, including 674 killed on that day alone, were reported dead while waiting for aid near the Zikim border crossing, highlighting the lethal consequences of the inhumane blockade [Western nations slam Israel’s ‘drip feeding of aid’ to Gaza as health crisis worsens].
Ethnic Cleansing and Terrorism
The actions in Gaza are also characterized as ethnic cleansing and terrorism against Palestinians. The mass displacement, destruction of infrastructure, and targeted killings of civilians, including those seeking aid, indicate a deliberate policy to remove or subjugate the Palestinian population. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that between October 7, 2023, and July 16, 2025, at least 58,573 Palestinians have been killed, and 139,607 injured, with many deaths occurring in non-combat situations [Humanitarian Situation Update #306 | Gaza Strip].
Israeli Public Opinion
Public opinion within Israel reflects a significant level of support for these oppressive policies. A Pew Research Center survey conducted in March/April 2024 found that a majority of Israeli Jews think this war on Gaza is good (39%) while others say it has “not gone far enough” (34%), with only a minority (19%) believing it has gone too far. This support persists despite international condemnation and evidence of war crimes, indicating a troubling acceptance of the ongoing violence and humanitarian crisis.
International Response and Accountability
The international community has responded with concern and criticism. Western nations, including the United States and European Union, have called for Israel to allow aid entry and reconsider its policies [Western nations slam Israel’s ‘drip feeding of aid’ to Gaza as health crisis worsens]. However, these calls have not translated into sufficient action to alleviate the crisis. The United Nations and organizations like UNICEF and UNRWA have urged for a ceasefire and increased humanitarian access, but the blockade and ongoing conflict continue to obstruct these efforts.
Israel must be held responsible for the war crimes of deliberate starvation, genocide, and ethnic cleansing against Palestinians. The international community, including the ICJ and the International Criminal Court, must ensure accountability for these violations of international law. The suffering of Gaza’s population is a direct result of these policies, and the world cannot remain silent in the face of such atrocities.
The World Must Act Fast
The crisis in Gaza, where one-third of the population has not eaten in several days, is a stark reminder of the human cost of the failure of international mechanisms to protect civilians against a genocidal apartheid state. The deliberate starvation, genocide, and ethnic cleansing perpetrated by Israel demand urgent action and accountability. As the world watches, the responsibility lies with global leaders to ensure that speedy justice is served and that the people of Gaza receive the aid and protection they desperately need before the entire population succumbs to starvation.
