Edith Hejberg
Disturbing photographs of emaciated children from Gaza have become a regular feature in global media.
Leaders and aid organisations accuse Israel of blocking life-saving humanitarian supplies, triggering a worsening hunger crisis among the territory’s 2.2 million residents. Israel rejects these claims, blaming Hamas for the shortages.
Netanyahu Denies Famine in Gaza
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dismissed accusations of orchestrating a starvation campaign, calling them “a blatant lie.”
He insists there is no hunger in Gaza and claims Hamas is the real obstacle, seizing aid and blaming Israel for the shortages.
Military Sources Contradict Government Line
Two senior Israeli military officers and other informed sources told The New York Times they have found no evidence that Hamas systematically steals aid from the UN.
They say the UN’s system is “relatively reliable” and less vulnerable to interference than smaller operations.
U.S. Analysis Finds No Systematic Theft
An internal U.S. government review, seen by Reuters, reached similar conclusions: there is no proof Hamas regularly diverts American-funded humanitarian assistance.
While theft from smaller groups has occurred, large-scale UN deliveries remain largely intact.
Evidence of a Deepening Hunger Crisis
Access for foreign journalists has been blocked for nearly two years, but video footage shows signs of malnutrition, confirmed by hospital staff treating undernourished patients.
The IPC food security monitor reports more than 20,000 children treated for acute malnutrition since April and 74 deaths from undernourishment this year, 63 of them in July.
Human Rights Groups Allege Genocide
Two Israeli organisations, Physicians for Human Rights Israel and B’Tselem, accuse the Netanyahu government of committing genocide in Gaza, citing forced displacement, starvation, and the destruction of healthcare. Israel’s government rejects the charge as baseless.
Trump Urges Immediate Action
During a visit to Scotland, U.S. President Donald Trump pressed Israel to guarantee food access for Gaza’s civilians, saying, “Some of these children are truly starving. You can’t fake that.” He pledged U.S. cooperation in setting up barrier-free food centres in the territory.
Aid Deliveries Increase, But Fall Short
International pressure has led to some progress: 120 aid trucks entered Gaza on Sunday, followed by 180 on Monday.
Yet the territory normally needs 500 trucks daily to function. Around half a million people are suffering from severe hunger and malnutrition, requiring specialised medical diets that are currently scarce.
IPC Warns of Worst-Case Scenario
The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification warns that “the worst-case famine scenario” is unfolding.
One in three people reportedly goes days without food, and the threshold for acute malnutrition has been reached in many areas. While Gaza is not yet formally declared in famine, the IPC says urgent action is needed to prevent further deaths.
Death Toll Mounts Amid Ongoing Conflict
Since October 2023, more than 60,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli strikes, with over 145,000 wounded and thousands missing.
Most of Gaza’s population is now internally displaced. International consensus, apart from Israel, recognises the hunger crisis, and aid flows via the UN may be the only way to stop the images of starvation from worsening.
