“Mass starvation” is spreading across the population in Gaza as the devastating war continues for 21 months straight, according to aid and human rights organizations on Wednesday.
The Urgent Need for Food and Essentials
As many as 2 million people in Gaza are scrambling for food and basic essentials since the war began. Rights groups have accused Israel of preventing essential supplies from reaching Palestinian territories.
Children of Gaza . pic.twitter.com/2NpaeNoOqI
— TIMES OF GAZA (@Timesofgaza) July 22, 2025
Alarming Statistics: Child Deaths from Malnutrition
In a tragic report, the head of Gaza’s largest hospital announced that 21 children have died in the past three days due to malnutrition and starvation. This alarming statistic highlights the urgent humanitarian crisis that is unfolding.
International Response: Calls for a Ceasefire
The dire warning from aid organizations comes amidst indications from the United States that efforts are underway to facilitate a ceasefire. Steve Witkoff, the U.S. Middle East envoy, is set to head to Europe for potential ceasefire discussions.
State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce stated, “We come with a strong hope that we will come forward with another ceasefire as well as a humanitarian corridor for aid to flow, that both sides have in fact agreed to.”
Israel Faces Pressure Over Aid Blockades
Amid the spread of “mass starvation” in Gaza, Israel faces significant international pressure regarding the delivery of aid. However, Israel has denied blocking aid, claiming that 950 trucks of aid are in Gaza awaiting collection and distribution by international agencies.
An unnamed senior Israeli security official told the Times of Israel, “We have not identified starvation at this current point in time but we understand that action is required to stabilize the humanitarian situation.”
Accusations Against Hamas
Israel insists that while it has allowed aid into Gaza, Hamas is exacerbating the situation by stealing supplies and selling them at inflated prices.
The Cost of Survival: Tragedies at Aid Centers
Recently, multiple fatalities have occurred in Gaza as people attempted to secure food or supplies from aid centers. Health officials report that 21 individuals were killed in Israeli strikes on Tuesday and early Wednesday.
Rising Death Toll Among Aid Seekers
According to the United Nations, over 1,000 Palestinians have died while seeking food and aid since late May, following the onset of operations by the U.S.- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which has sidelined the traditional U.S. aid system.
A Unified Call for Action
A statement by 111 aid and human rights organizations calls for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of Gaza’s borders to facilitate aid through UN-led systems. The statement warned that “our colleagues and those we serve are wasting away.”
“It is not just physical torment, but psychological. Survival is dangled like a mirage… The humanitarian system cannot run on false promises. Humanitarians cannot operate on shifting timelines or wait for political commitments that fail to deliver access,” the statement adds.
Context: The Ongoing Conflict
The current conflict was triggered by Hamas’s attack on Israel on October 7, 2025, resulting in the deaths of over 1,200 people, most of whom were civilians. In retaliation, approximately 59,219 Palestinians have been killed, predominantly civilians, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry.
