Gaza’s humanitarian crisis has reached a devastating new low, with starvation and violence claiming the lives of civilians at an unprecedented rate. According to the Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza, at least five Palestinians, including two children, died of starvation in the last 24 hours alone as of August 17, 2025. The same period saw 17 more killed by Israeli assaults, eight of whom were reportedly targeted while seeking desperately needed food aid. The enclave is reeling from what international observers and rights groups now openly describe as a man-made famine, compounded by relentless bombardments and a blockade that has pushed nearly all of Gaza’s 2.3 million residents to the brink.
These deaths are not isolated tragedies but part of a larger, harrowing pattern. The Health Ministry reported on August 18, 2025, that 60 people were killed and over 340 injured in Gaza in just the previous 24 hours due to ongoing Israeli attacks. Since the war began on October 7, 2023, the overall death toll has soared to 62,004, with more than 156,000 wounded. The numbers are staggering, and the toll on families—especially children—is incalculable. Over 260 Palestinians, including more than 110 children, have died from famine and starvation, the result of what rights groups call a deliberate campaign to cut off food and basic necessities.
Amnesty International minced no words in its condemnation on August 18, 2025, stating, “It is the intended outcome of plans and policies that Israel has designed and implemented, over the past 22 months, to deliberately inflict on Palestinians in Gaza conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction – which is part and parcel of Israel’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.” The organization further accused Israel of “waging a deliberate campaign of starvation against Gaza’s population,” arguing that these policies are calculated to deprive civilians of food, health, and dignity. According to Amnesty International, these are not accidental consequences of war but the result of systematic decisions.
Other major human rights organizations have echoed this alarm. The United Nations Human Rights Council, Human Rights Watch, and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have all accused Israel of employing starvation as a weapon of war, a practice considered a war crime under international law. The United Nations and its agencies warn that nearly every person in Gaza now faces catastrophic food insecurity, with children suffering the most. The situation is so dire that international condemnation has grown louder and more unified, with calls for accountability and urgent action to prevent further loss of life.
The Israeli military campaign has focused on densely populated neighborhoods such as Zeitoun, Sabra, Remal, and Tuffah, leading to the displacement of thousands who are already struggling with extreme hunger. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly announced plans to evacuate residents within two months ahead of an expanded military operation to seize Gaza City. Israeli media indicate that discussions are underway with countries including Indonesia, Somaliland, Uganda, South Sudan, and Libya to accept displaced Palestinians—a move that critics say echoes the ethnic cleansing of the 1948 Nakba.
Efforts to alleviate the crisis have so far been met with tragedy. In late May, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)—an initiative backed by the United States and Israel—was launched to provide aid. Yet, the Palestinian Health Ministry reports that nearly 2,000 people have been killed attempting to access food and supplies at GHF sites, with Israeli forces opening fire on crowds seeking help. This grim statistic underscores the perilous reality faced by Gazans: even basic attempts to secure food can be fatal.
Global outrage has grown in response to the mounting death toll and the use of starvation as a weapon. On August 17, 2025, hundreds of thousands of Israelis took to the streets in strikes and demonstrations, calling for an end to the war and warning that expanded attacks on Gaza City could endanger the lives of captives still held there. Protests have also erupted worldwide, with demonstrators demanding an immediate end to Israel’s military operations and the blockade that is starving Gaza’s population.
Several countries—including South Africa, Ireland, Spain, and Chile—have described Israel’s assault as genocidal. South Africa has gone so far as to file a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which in January 2025 issued provisional measures ordering Israel to prevent genocide in Gaza. Rights groups, however, argue that these measures have been ignored, as the humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate. Meanwhile, governments across the Global South and segments of the European Union have called for an immediate ceasefire and the restoration of full humanitarian access to the enclave.
In a move that further isolates Israel diplomatically, major international powers including France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Portugal have announced their intention to recognize the statehood of Palestine at the upcoming 80th United Nations General Assembly in September 2025. While largely symbolic, this step signals a growing shift in international sentiment and adds to the mounting pressure on Israel to change course.
The international community’s response is varied, reflecting the complexity of the conflict and the deep divisions it stirs. Some Western governments have hesitated to go beyond statements of concern, wary of jeopardizing alliances or regional stability. Others, particularly in the Global South, have been more vocal in their condemnation and calls for accountability. Within Israel itself, the war has sparked intense debate, with segments of the population demanding an end to the violence and a return to negotiations, while others insist that military operations must continue until their objectives are met.
For the people of Gaza, however, these geopolitical calculations offer little comfort. The daily reality is one of hunger, fear, and loss. The blockade, relentless bombardments, and targeted attacks on civilians have created conditions that international observers say are not simply collateral damage but part of a systematic campaign of oppression. As one rights group put it, “These policies are not incidental but calculated to deprive civilians of food, health, and dignity.”
As the world watches, the question remains: how many more lives will be lost before decisive action is taken? The suffering in Gaza is not inevitable—it is the result of choices made and policies enacted. Justice for Gaza, as many advocates argue, will require not just an end to the siege and military operations, but a renewed commitment to defending the fundamental human rights of Palestinians and ensuring that such a catastrophe is never repeated.
The situation in Gaza stands as a stark reminder of the devastating human cost of conflict and the urgent need for accountability, humanitarian access, and, above all, peace.