A severe famine is taking hold in Gaza, with mounting evidence suggesting that Israeli restrictions on humanitarian aid are the primary cause of widespread malnutrition and hunger-related deaths.
According to data from Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the amount of food entering the enclave between March and June was less than a quarter of the minimum required to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe.
The United Nations and other international bodies report a grim reality on the ground. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a UN-backed platform, has stated that its “worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in Gaza,” with two of the three thresholds for a famine declaration — plummeting food consumption and acute malnutrition — already met. The third, a significant rise in hunger-related deaths, is increasingly evident, with the Palestinian Ministry of Health reporting 147 deaths from starvation this year, including 88 children.
This crisis is unfolding despite Israel’s awareness of the caloric needs of Gaza’s population. In 2006, Israeli officials calculated that Palestinians required a minimum of 2 279 calories per person daily. However, current aid levels fall drastically short. Humanitarian organisations are now asking for a smaller minimum ration of 62 000 metric tonnes of food per month to meet the basic needs of 2.1 million people, but even this target is not being met.
The situation has prompted a visit from US envoy Steve Witkoff to aid distribution sites and has drawn sharp criticism from international rights groups. Two Israeli-based organisations, B’tselem and Yesh Din, have accused Israel of committing genocide, citing the weaponisation of hunger as part of an “official and openly declared policy” of mass starvation.
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Malnutrition crisis hits mothers and children hardest
The impact of the food shortages is particularly devastating for the most vulnerable. Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) released alarming data showing that 44% of pregnant and breastfeeding mothers screened by its local partner, Ard El Insan (AEI), are suffering from severe malnutrition—an almost 10% increase from May.
Hospitals are overwhelmed, with over 20 000 children treated for acute malnutrition since April. The long-term consequences for children include stunted growth and irreversible cognitive delays.
Mohammed Alkhatib, MAP’s Deputy Director of Programmes in south Gaza, expressed grave concern: “Alarmingly, we have started to see a rise in deaths linked to malnutrition, not only among children but also the elderly.”
Aid delivery itself has become perilous. Airdrops, described by the World Food Programme (WFP) as a “last resort,” have proven inefficient and dangerous. In response to international pressure, Israel has increased the number of aid trucks, but the volume remains insufficient to reverse the famine.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres has stressed that “the trickle of aid must become an ocean” and repeated his call for an immediate humanitarian ceasefire and full, unimpeded access for aid convoys throughout Gaza.
