Gaza Endures Man-Made Mass Starvation, WHO Chief Warns.

Nearly two years into Israel’s conflict in Gaza, the area is experiencing worsening conditions marked by rising deaths and hunger. Many have died while trying to access aid, others from starvation, and criticism of Israel’s actions is growing, even among its closest allies.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warned on Wednesday that Palestinians in Gaza are facing deliberate “mass starvation” due to an ongoing aid blockade. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus shared heartbreaking accounts of children crying themselves to sleep from hunger and described food distribution centers turning violent.

The United Nations reported that since late May, over a thousand people have been killed by Israeli forces while attempting to reach food, following the start of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) a new aid group supported by Israel and the U.S. intended to replace the UN’s humanitarian role. Hundreds died near GHF sites, and the organization has been widely criticized for failing to improve the crisis.

All 2.1 million residents of Gaza are now facing food insecurity. Gaza’s health ministry reported 900,000 children are hungry, with 70,000 showing signs of malnutrition. Even before the war, Gaza was one of the most crowded and isolated places globally, with two million people living in just 140 square miles under a strict Israeli blockade restricting movement and goods. Over half the population was already food insecure and living in poverty before the conflict.

Before October 2023, roughly 500 to 600 aid trucks entered Gaza daily. Since then, that number has dropped to about 28 trucks per day, though it’s unclear if this includes GHF shipments.

Following Hamas’ deadly October 7 attack that killed 1,200 and took over 250 hostages, Israel imposed a “complete siege” on Gaza, cutting off electricity, food, water, and fuel. This sparked a humanitarian disaster amid Israel’s military operations. Human rights groups have accused Israel of weaponizing food and imposing collective punishment on the population.

International pressure allowed limited aid into Gaza in late October. A temporary ceasefire in late November briefly increased aid deliveries before collapsing. Afterwards, deliveries again dwindled, with Israeli inspections causing delays. Israel says this screening is to prevent Hamas from diverting aid, while humanitarian groups accuse Israel of deliberately blocking shipments.

Israel also targeted UN aid operations, alleging inefficiency and Hamas infiltration. The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) was accused of employing individuals involved in the October 7 attacks; a UN investigation found a small number of such cases, and the employees were removed.

In January, Israel banned UNRWA from Gaza, cutting off essential food, healthcare, and education services to hundreds of thousands.

The destruction and displacement caused by the Israeli campaign led to widespread lawlessness, including looting that obstructed aid delivery and caused casualties at distribution points. Israel blamed Hamas and armed gangs. The UN warned Gaza could collapse into chaos within weeks. By November 2024, aid delivery capacity was reportedly “completely gone.”

In one major incident, over 100 aid trucks were lost after drivers were forced at gunpoint to unload, and aid workers were attacked.

With Hamas weakened and Gaza’s police force largely destroyed, gangs began stealing and reselling aid. Israel armed local militias to counter Hamas a move criticized for risking future instability. This represented the closest Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu came to suggesting alternate governance in Gaza, though no post-war plan was announced.

A brief ceasefire on January 19 allowed some aid to resume, but volumes remained far below what was needed. On March 2, Israel reinstated a full blockade and resumed fighting, demanding Hamas accept new ceasefire terms and release hostages.

By July, the World Food Programme reported that a quarter of Gaza’s population faced famine-like conditions. At least 80 children have died from malnutrition, mostly after the March blockade, according to WHO and Gaza’s health ministry.

In May, the GHF began operations with Israeli and U.S. support, replacing the UN’s role.

However, GHF’s director Jake Wood resigned days before the launch, citing conflicts with humanitarian principles like neutrality and impartiality.

GHF pledged to prevent Hamas from accessing aid and worked closely with the Israeli military. Security was provided by private contractors.

The UN refused to participate, calling the GHF model a violation of humanitarian principles. Unlike the UN, which operated hundreds of distribution sites, GHF runs only a few in southern and central Gaza, forcing large crowds to gather at limited points.

GHF defends its approach as a “secure model” to prevent looting. But soon after starting on May 27, aid seekers near GHF sites came under fire. Palestinian officials and witnesses blame Israeli troops for most deaths, while Israel admitted to some warning shots but denied responsibility for others.