On the morning of September 20, 2025, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza reached new depths as multiple developments converged to further strain an already devastated region. Overnight, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 14 people in Gaza City, including six members of a single family related to the director of Shifa Hospital, according to Gaza health officials. The strikes, part of a broader Israeli offensive aimed at dismantling Hamas’s military infrastructure, come as Western nations prepare to recognize Palestinian statehood at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly, a move that could reshape the diplomatic landscape but offers little immediate relief to those on the ground.
The Israeli military’s campaign in Gaza shows no signs of abating. As reported by multiple outlets, the offensive has no set timeline and could stretch for months. Israeli authorities maintain that their operations are necessary to “destroy Hamas’s military infrastructure,” but the toll on civilians has been catastrophic. Over the past 23 months, Israeli bombardment has killed more than 65,000 people in Gaza, displaced around 90% of the enclave’s population, and created a humanitarian disaster, with famine now declared in Gaza City. The death toll, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, has climbed past 65,100 since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel—a figure regarded by the United Nations and independent experts as a reliable estimate, though it does not distinguish between civilians and militants.
For those living in Gaza City, the situation is dire. Israel has repeatedly urged hundreds of thousands of Palestinians sheltering in the city to evacuate southward to what it calls a humanitarian zone. In recent days, a corridor south of Gaza City was opened for two days to allow more people to flee. Still, many residents are either unwilling or unable to leave, citing exhaustion, lack of resources, or simply being too weak to attempt another move. Aid organizations have warned that forced evacuations risk exacerbating the crisis, as families already pushed to their limits face the prospect of further displacement with no guarantee of safety or support.
The humanitarian response has been further complicated by violence and logistical breakdowns. On September 19, UNICEF reported that four trucks carrying lifesaving therapeutic food for malnourished children in Gaza City were intercepted by armed individuals outside their compound. The drivers, held at gunpoint, were forced to surrender the cargo. “They were intended to treat malnourished children in Gaza City where famine is declared … it was a life-saving shipment amid the severe restrictions on aid delivery to Gaza City,” said Ammar Ammar, a spokesperson for UNICEF, as cited by international media. Israel’s military has blamed Hamas for the theft, alleging that the group siphons off aid to fund its military activities, though no evidence has been provided. The United Nations maintains that mechanisms are in place to prevent significant diversion of aid, underscoring the complexity and politicization of relief efforts in the region.
In a further blow to humanitarian operations, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) announced on September 19 that it has suspended programming providing critical care for children in Gaza, citing escalating safety concerns. Kelly Razzouk of the IRC told the press, “We can’t safely operate in Gaza,” highlighting the impossible conditions facing aid workers. This decision comes at a time when the need for humanitarian assistance is surging, particularly for children suffering from malnutrition and trauma. The suspension of IRC’s programs removes a vital lifeline for some of Gaza’s most vulnerable residents.
Meanwhile, the flow of aid into Gaza has been disrupted by violence at the borders. On the night of September 18 to 19, Israel suspended humanitarian aid shipments from Jordan after a deadly attack at the Allenby Bridge border crossing. A Jordanian national, reportedly driving a humanitarian aid truck bound for Gaza, killed two Israeli soldiers—Lt. Col. (res.) Yitzhak Harosh, 68, and Sgt. Oran Hershko, 20—in a shooting and stabbing assault. In response, Israel closed the Allenby Bridge and the southern Jordan River crossing indefinitely. The Rabin Crossing near Eilat remains open only to workers, and the Taba terminal with Egypt continues normal operations.
This suspension affects approximately 150 Jordanian aid trucks per week, out of the 1,800 shipments that typically reach Gaza. Israeli officials stressed that humanitarian supplies would continue to flow through Egypt and other crossings, but the disruption is significant. The decision to halt Jordanian aid shipments was recommended by Israel Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, pending a full investigation and the implementation of new screening procedures. The closure of the Allenby Bridge is especially impactful, as it is a major conduit for both people and goods between Jordan and the Palestinian territories. Notably, a similar attack occurred at the same crossing in September 2024, when a Jordanian truck driver killed three Israeli workers, raising longstanding concerns about security at these critical junctures.
The international context is shifting as well. Portugal’s Foreign Affairs Ministry announced it will officially recognize a Palestinian state on Sunday, joining a growing list of Western countries—including the UK, Canada, Australia, Malta, Belgium, and Luxembourg—expected to take similar steps in the coming days. This diplomatic momentum is set to coincide with the United Nations General Assembly, where world leaders will gather to discuss, among other issues, the ongoing crisis in Gaza. While recognition of Palestinian statehood is largely symbolic in the immediate term, it signals mounting frustration with the status quo and a desire among some Western governments to push for a political resolution.
Throughout these developments, the suffering of ordinary Palestinians remains at the center of the story. Aid organizations, including UNICEF and the IRC, continue to plead for a ceasefire and unfettered access to those in need. The theft of therapeutic food, the suspension of critical care programs, and the closure of key border crossings all point to a system under immense strain, where the needs of civilians are routinely overshadowed by military and political imperatives. As one aid worker put it, “It’s the children who pay the highest price.”
With no clear end in sight to the fighting and the humanitarian situation deteriorating by the day, the people of Gaza face an uncertain and perilous future. The world’s attention may be shifting to diplomatic maneuvers at the United Nations, but the immediate reality on the ground is one of loss, hunger, and fear—a crisis that demands urgent and sustained action from all sides.