One-third of Gaza's population is starving, silently facing death

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One-third of Gaza's population is starving, silently facing death - UN's heartbreaking warning

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Millions of people in the Gaza Strip are facing food shortages every day. The UN World Food Programme (WFP) says one in three people there are starving. Malnutrition rates are rising at an alarming rate, and at least 90,000 women and children need urgent medical attention.

The BBC reported on Saturday (July 26) that nine more people died of malnutrition in Gaza on Friday, bringing the death toll from hunger and malnutrition to 122 since the war began on October 7.

Israel has imposed restrictions on the entry of any essential goods, including food, into the besieged Gaza Strip. Although the country claims that there are no longer any obstacles to the delivery of aid, it blames Hamas for the crisis. However, aid agencies say that in reality the delivery of aid is very limited and hampered.

An Israeli security official said that air aid deliveries may be allowed in the coming days. However, international aid agencies consider this ineffective and risky.

Local sources said the UAE and Jordan were planning to launch new airdrops of aid, although Israel has yet to give it the necessary approval.

International reaction:

Germany, France and the UK issued a joint statement calling for an end to the humanitarian disaster in Gaza and for aid to flow in immediately. They urged Israel to comply with international human rights law.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said, “The silence and inaction of the international community is inexplicable. There is no mercy, no truth, no humanity.”

Obstruction and violence in aid distribution:

Guterres added that more than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since May 27 while trying to collect aid. Since then, a non-governmental group, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, has been working as an alternative to the UN in distributing aid.

Ceasefire uncertain:

Progress in talks on an Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostage release has stalled. The United States and Israel have withdrawn their delegations from the ongoing mediation talks in Qatar. US President Donald Trump has said that “Hamas is not interested in any deal, they want to die.”

Hamas expressed surprise at the comments, saying that the door to negotiations is not completely closed yet. According to them, the Israeli delegation may return to Doha next week.

It is worth noting that Israel’s attack on Gaza began on October 7, 2023, after a Hamas attack in Israel killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll in Gaza in the conflict has exceeded 59,000 so far.