The entire population of the Gaza Strip—2.1 million people, according to UN data— is at risk of severe food insecurity.
This means they wake up every day not knowing if they will be able to eat anything, and many will not get any, at least not enough. This is according to the latest analysis by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), published Thursday.
One million are experiencing an “emergency” situation due to a lack of food, while 470,000 face famine, which poses a risk of death if they do not receive food immediately. The Ministry of Health in the Gaza Strip, which is controlled by Hamas, reported a week ago that 29 children had died of starvation in just two days.
More than 92% of infants between six and 24 months old, as well as pregnant and lactating women, do not receive sufficient nutrients, according to the UN study. The report also warns that around 71,000 children under five are severely malnourished, of whom 14,100 are in critical condition.
More than 80 days of Israel’s blockade of humanitarian aid have left the population exhausted — without food, cooking fuel, hygiene products, drinking water, or even shelter. 92% of homes are damaged or destroyed by bombing, according to data published by OCHA.
After strong international criticism of this policy, Israel opened the door to truck entry a week ago. However, restrictions imposed by Israeli forces on the distribution of humanitarian aid by NGOs and UN agencies are making it difficult for civilians to receive basic supplies.
Self-sufficiency in food is no longer an option, with less than 5 percent of the Strip’s arable land available, according to the FAO.
The system of distributing allotments, run by a private foundation outside the UN and supported by Israel and the United States, requires people to travel to designated points in the southern Gaza Strip.
According to various actors on the ground, this is part of a military plan to displace the population to areas between the sea and militarised zones — not a humanitarian effort. They state this violates international humanitarian law. Hamas called it “a war crime” in a statement.
“In Gaza, survival is a privilege granted only to those who comply with a military plan described by one Israeli minister as ‘conquer, clear, and remain’ in the Palestinian Strip,”
said Jonathan Whittall, head of OCHA’s office for the Occupied Palestinian Territory.
Whittall added that the UN has refused to participate in the plan, calling it logistically unfeasible and in violation of humanitarian principles.
“It doesn’t have to be this way: we need our current system to be enabled.”
Hunger, humanitarian workers in Gaza add, is forcing many Gazans into a desperate search for food, sometimes leading to riots or looting, such as at the one that occurred at the World Food Program warehouses in Deir al-Balah, where two people were killed and dozens injured, according to preliminary reports.
During the first two days of food distribution by the controversial Gaza Humanitarian Fund, the situation spiraled out of control. Israeli gunfire caused 10 deaths and dozens of injuries, according to Hamas.
On Wednesday morning, a stray bullet struck a patient at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) field hospital in Rafah. He had to be transferred to another facility, the ICRC reported Thursday.
On Tuesday night, the day the Israeli-US-backed foundation began distributing food at one of its points in Rafah, the hospital received a “massive influx of 48 patients”, including women and children, all with gunshot wounds.
The foundation denied these claims, stating there were “no shots fired, no injuries, no deaths” at its facilities. It claimed to have distributed 1.8 million meals, equal to around 17,280 boxes, at three collection points without incident.
Israeli forces acknowledged firing on Tuesday but said they fired into the air.
“Constant care must be taken to protect civilians during military operations. This is not only an obligation under international humanitarian law, but a moral imperative,”
said Julien Lerisson, head of the ICRC in Israel and the occupied territories.
Following a visit to Gaza, Lerisson described the humanitarian situation as “intolerable.”
“Civilians should not be the ones to pay the highest price in the conflict. The humanitarian needs are overwhelming. One truck, three trucks, even 100 trucks of aid a day are simply not enough to meet the scale of the needs of two million people. We cannot address a crisis of this magnitude with piecemeal solutions.”
Insufficient Supplies and Medical Crisis
In addition to food, there is a shortage of medicine, medical supplies, drinking water, and fuel.
The list of shortages is extensive after more than two months of Israeli closure to aid entry.
The recent reopening is insufficient, according to aid organisations. Roughly 100 trucks now pass through checkpoints daily — far fewer than the 500–600 trucks that were allowed before the blockade, despite greater current need.
“121 trucks carrying humanitarian aid entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing on Wednesday, following an inspection,”
said the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Israel’s defense ministry logistics unit, on X.
“We will continue to facilitate humanitarian aid to Gaza, making every effort to ensure that it does not reach Hamas,” it added.
However, the UN and NGOs insist this is not enough. Unsafe routes and checkpoint delays imposed by Israeli forces are making humanitarian work ‘nearly impossible’.
Cancer Treatment Suspended
The Ministry of Health in Gaza announced Thursday that it is suspending IV chemotherapy treatments and follow-up services for cancer patients in the Strip.
“The evacuation of the European Hospital and the Gaza Cancer Center has worsened the catastrophic situation,” it stated.
According to the ministry:
- • 64% of cancer medications are out of stock
- • 11,000 cancer patients lack adequate treatment
- • 5,000 need urgent referrals abroad for diagnosis, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.