The Gaza Health Ministry reports 53,655 deaths and 121,000 injuries since October 2023, underscoring the conflict’s devastating toll. A 2025 IPC report estimates 95% of Gaza’s population faces acute food insecurity, with 30% of children showing signs of wasting.
New Delhi: Gaza’s humanitarian crisis has reached catastrophic levels, with at least 29 children and elderly dying from starvation-related causes in recent days, according to Palestinian Health Minister Majed Abu Ramadan. The Israeli blockade, intensified since March 2025, has crippled aid deliveries, leaving 2.3 million Palestinians on the brink of famine. Hospitals are overwhelmed with malnourished children, and the United Nations warns that without urgent intervention, thousands more could perish. The crisis, exacerbated by ongoing Israeli military operations, has drawn global condemnation, yet limited aid trickling in—90 to 100 trucks carrying mostly flour—falls far short of the 500 trucks needed daily to avert disaster.
Starvation Deaths and a Collapsing Health System
Palestinian Health Minister Majed Abu Ramadan reported that the 29 deaths, primarily among children and the elderly, stem from acute malnutrition and dehydration, with Gaza’s health infrastructure on the verge of collapse. Only seven or eight of Gaza’s hospitals remain partially operational, and over 90% of medical supplies have been depleted, per the Gaza Health Ministry. Abu Ramadan dismissed the UN’s estimate of 14,000 infants at risk of death as “understated,” asserting the true scale is far graver. At Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, malnourished children like two-year-old Mayar, who suffers from celiac disease, are admitted in critical condition, their survival hinging on unavailable specialized foods and medical supplies. The World Food Programme (WFP) noted that while some bakeries resumed operations with limited flour, “bread alone is not enough for survival.”
Israeli Blockade: A Stranglehold on Survival
Israel’s near-total blockade, imposed in March 2025, has barred most food, water, medicine, and fuel from entering Gaza, pushing the entire population toward starvation, according to UN reports. On May 22, 2025, 90 to 100 aid trucks entered Gaza after an 11-week hiatus, but Younis al-Khatib of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society warned that the volume is so inadequate it risks sparking looting. Anti-aid protests by Israeli groups near the Kerem Shalom crossing have further disrupted deliveries, with Reuters reporting attempts to block trucks. The blockade’s impact is stark: a WFP report projects that without immediate action, Gaza will cross famine thresholds within five months, with acute malnutrition and mortality rates already soaring.
Malnourished Children: The War’s Youngest Victims
Gaza’s children are bearing the brunt of the crisis, with over 9,000 treated for malnutrition in 2025, per UNICEF. At Nasser Hospital, cases like Mayar al-Arja, whose celiac disease requires a gluten-free diet unavailable in Gaza, highlight the dire situation. Her mother, Asma, described Mayar’s protruding ribs and swollen stomach, noting that soy milk and diapers are either inaccessible or prohibitively expensive. The war’s toll—19 months of bombardment and displacement—has left families like Mayar’s unable to secure basic nutrition. UNICEF’s Catherine Russell warned that over 1 million children face starvation, deprived of food, water, and medicine, with international humanitarian law violations exacerbating the crisis.
Global Condemnation and Inadequate Response
The international community has slammed Israel’s blockade, with the UN and aid agencies demanding unrestricted access to Gaza. Posts on X reflect outrage, with users like @mehdirhasan noting that “not a single truck of aid” crossed into Gaza for over two months, while @PeruginiNic highlighted Israeli forces targeting aid centers. Despite these warnings, geopolitical dynamics complicate relief efforts. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reportedly aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump’s Gaza strategy, has resisted ceasefire proposals that could ease the blockade, citing security concerns. The Gaza Health Ministry reports 53,655 deaths and 121,000 injuries since October 2023, underscoring the conflict’s devastating toll. A 2025 IPC report estimates 95% of Gaza’s population faces acute food insecurity, with 30% of children showing signs of wasting.
What Lies Ahead?
Without a significant increase in aid—500 trucks daily, per UN estimates—Gaza’s famine risk will escalate, potentially claiming thousands of lives. Abu Ramadan called for international pressure to lift the blockade, warning of “mobs and chaos” if aid remains scarce. The WFP and UN are poised to deliver food and medical supplies if borders reopen, but Israeli restrictions and ongoing airstrikes hinder progress. As Gaza’s hospitals buckle under the weight of malnourished patients, the crisis demands urgent global action to prevent a humanitarian catastrophe of unprecedented scale.
