Escalating food crisis in Gaza due to Israel's military action, warns leading expert on malnutrition
The Gaza Strip is grappling with a severe hunger crisis that is pushing the territory towards famine-like conditions, according to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), the world's leading body on hunger.
The situation in Gaza is characterized by a spiraling hunger crisis, with mounting evidence of widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease. Nearly one in five children under five in Gaza City is acutely malnourished, with malnutrition rates tripling since June 2025 in some areas. In July alone, 63 out of 74 malnutrition-related deaths occurred, including 24 children under five and 38 adults.
The IPC has issued a Food Insecurity and Malnutrition Alert, declaring that the "worst-case scenario of famine" is unfolding in Gaza. Although conditions do not yet meet all criteria for an official famine declaration, famine thresholds have been reached in most of the territory for food consumption and acute malnutrition in Gaza City.
The crisis in Gaza is being exacerbated by Israel's military offensive and crippling aid restrictions. International bodies and experts stress that an official famine declaration would not create legal obligations but serves as an indicator of the crisis's severity. They emphasize that the crisis is entirely preventable with restored aid and access.
Recommended actions from the IPC and WHO include ending hostilities, ensuring safe humanitarian access, protecting civilians and aid workers, restoring life-saving assistance, and reestablishing commercial goods flow and local production.
President Donald Trump has expressed concern over the conditions in Gaza, describing them as "real starvation," while his stance contrasts with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's stance. The total number of Palestinians killed since Israel launched its offensive in the Gaza Strip has passed 60,000, according to the health ministry in the enclave.
Aid organizations have warned that the supplies allowed into the enclave are not sufficient to prevent famine. The Israeli military has initiated limited pauses in fighting over the weekend, but the crisis remains critical. The IPC warns that deaths from starvation are continuing to rise, and the situation requires urgent humanitarian intervention and restoration of access to prevent further loss of life.
*References: [1] UN OCHA, "Gaza Crisis: Humanitarian Bulletin, 14 July 2023." [2] Middle East Monitor, "Gaza Health Ministry: 14 People Died of Hunger in One Day." [3] IPC, "Gaza Strip: Food Insecurity and Malnutrition Alert." [4] WHO, "Gaza Strip: Health Situation Report, 15 July 2023."
- The Gaza Strip's health-and-wellness predicament, marked by a severe hunger crisis, has been accentuated by war-and-conflicts, particularly Israel's military offensive, and crippling aid restrictions.
- The medical-conditions in Gaza are deteriorating rapidly, with widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease, as highlighted by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
- Despite President Donald Trump's concern over the starvation in Gaza, political tensions between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu persist, while the ongoing crisis in Gaza continues to necessitate urgent fitness-and-exercise for its survival, demanding ongoing humanitarian intervention and restored access.
