Gaza Crisis: Starvation and Humanitarian Concerns Escalate

Israel has announced measures to improve the humanitarian response in Gaza, including airdropping aid and allowing a "tactical pause" in military activity, amid international condemnation that it is responsible for starvation in the region. The measures are seen as a gesture to allies, including the UK, France, and Germany, who have strongly criticized Israel's handling of the crisis. The UN and aid agencies have condemned Israel's restrictions on aid and its new aid distribution system, which they say is inhumane and militarized. The situation in Gaza remains dire, with over 1,000 Palestinians shot dead while trying to access aid, and nearly a third of the population not eating for days. Critics argue that airdropping aid is a "grotesque distraction" and that a ceasefire and unrestricted aid operation are needed to address the crisis.

The Israeli military has begun a "tactical pause" in fighting in three populated areas of Gaza for 10 hours a day to allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid. The pause, which started on Sunday, will take place in Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Muwasi, and is intended to increase the scale of aid entering the Gaza Strip. The move comes as concerns over hunger and malnutrition in Gaza mount, with the UN's food agency warning of the risk of famine and reporting that a third of Gaza's population are not eating for days. The Hamas-run Health Ministry in Gaza reported six new deaths due to malnutrition, including two children, bringing the total number of deaths from malnutrition to at least 133. The Israeli military said the pause will continue until further notice, but emphasized that it will continue its offensive against Hamas in other areas. The UN welcomed the move, but called for a broader ceasefire to ensure goods reach everyone in need.

The Israeli military has begun airdropping aid into the Gaza Strip amid international criticism of Israel's handling of the catastrophic humanitarian situation. The military stated that it had airdropped seven packages containing flour, sugar, and canned food on Saturday night, and plans to continue airdrops with seven pallets of aid to be dropped. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said it is also prepared to implement humanitarian pauses and establish corridors for UN aid convoys, but combat operations against Hamas have not ceased. The airdrops are seen as a response to increased pressure from allies and human rights organizations, with countries like Jordan and the UK planning to participate. However, the head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, Philippe Lazzarini, stated that airdrops are "expensive, inefficient, and can even kill starving civilians," and that the only way to reverse the deepening starvation is for Israel to allow safe and dignified access to people in need. The Gaza Strip is facing a dire food crisis, with at least 53 people reported killed by airstrikes and gunshots, and a 5-month-old baby dying after weighing less than her birth weight.

Democratic senators, including Chris Van Hollen, are calling on the Trump administration to suspend its funding for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a organization criticized for its food distribution methods, and resume aid to the United Nations. The GHF has been linked to the deaths of Gazans attempting to access aid, with 766 fatalities reported at its locations. The senators expressed "grave" concerns over the GHF, which is backed by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and uses military zones for aid distribution. The UN has condemned the GHF's methods as "an abomination" and a contributor to the humanitarian disaster. The IDF has claimed there is no starvation, despite reports of worsening conditions and the UN Secretary-General stating that over 1,000 Palestinians have died attempting to obtain aid since May 27.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot discussed the Gaza crisis on "Face the Nation," stating that 52 tons of humanitarian aid are stuck in Egypt and France is exploring ways to deliver it to Gaza. He called for an immediate ceasefire, the liberation of Hamas hostages, and unhindered humanitarian access. Barrot said Israel has made initial commitments but not fulfilled them, and France expects Israel to stop settlement projects, pay $2.2 billion to the Palestinian Authority, and lift the financial blockade. France will lead a UN summit on a two-state solution and plans to formally recognize Palestine in September, despite US opposition. Barrot argued that this move is necessary to restart the peace process and that it complements US efforts. He also addressed the removal of French Jewish students from a flight, stating that an investigation is ongoing, and expressed concern about Iran's potential nuclear program after the US and Israel bombed Iran.

Hundreds of people have taken to the streets in Israel to protest the country's ongoing war in Gaza, where a severe starvation crisis is unfolding. The protests come as the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with 900,000 children going hungry and 70,000 showing signs of malnutrition. Israel has faced criticism for its blockade of Gaza, which it says is necessary to prevent Hamas from obtaining resources, while aid agencies are calling for the blockade to be lifted and for more aid to be allowed into the territory.

The article discusses the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza due to ongoing conflict and Israeli blockade, leading to widespread starvation and malnutrition. Scores of people, many of them children, have died from malnutrition since the conflict began in October 2023. Israel has announced a "tactical pause" in fighting in certain areas to allow aid to enter, and airdrops have resumed. However, human rights agencies have criticized airdrops as an inefficient method of delivering aid. The situation is dire, with 70,000 children in need of urgent treatment for acute malnutrition, and the World Food Programme warning of looming famine. The article includes disturbing images of malnourished children, people waiting for food aid, and families struggling to survive.

Hamas rejected US criticism after ceasefire talks with Israel collapsed, with a Hamas official claiming Israel was the "real obstructionist" and demanding the US pressure Israel to engage in negotiations. US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had stated that Hamas was not acting in good faith, leading the US to pull its team from Qatar, where negotiations were taking place. The US and Israel both withdrew their teams from the talks, but mediators Qatar and Egypt vowed to continue working towards a ceasefire, with talks expected to resume the following week.

The Israel Defense Forces announced it will resume airdrops of humanitarian aid to Gaza, citing coordination with international aid organizations, after the UN warned of increased malnutrition and starvation in the area. The IDF disputed claims of deliberate starvation, blaming Hamas for promoting a "false campaign." The airdrops will include flour, sugar, and canned food, and designated humanitarian corridors will be established to enable the safe movement of UN convoys. The UN Secretary-General described the situation in Gaza as a "horror show" with a high level of death and destruction.

The UN's aid chief, Tom Fletcher, has warned that "vast amounts of aid" are needed to prevent a catastrophic health crisis and famine in Gaza. Israel has agreed to a "one-week scale-up of aid" and has begun limited pauses in fighting for 10 hours a day in three areas of Gaza. One in three people in Gaza haven't eaten for days, and children are suffering from malnutrition. The UN welcomes Israel's decision but says more is needed to address the worsening humanitarian situation. The situation is expected to be discussed during talks between Sir Keir Starmer and Donald Trump, with Starmer set to raise concerns about the need for a ceasefire.

Iair Horn, an Israeli-Argentinian who was recently released after spending a year and a half in captivity with his sibling, has spoken out about the conditions faced by hostages and stated that when humanitarian aid increases in the region, the food they are given also increases, giving hope that increased aid to the Gaza region could improve the treatment of those still being held by the militant Hamas group.

The UN General Assembly is holding a two-day meeting to promote a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict, co-chaired by the foreign ministers of France and Saudi Arabia. Israel and the US are boycotting the meeting, with Israel opposing a two-state solution and the US calling it "counterproductive" to efforts to end the Gaza war. France and Saudi Arabia aim to highlight the two-state solution as the viable path to peace and discuss steps to achieve it.

The 2 million people in Gaza, including 1 million children, face severe hunger due to an Israeli siege, with nearly 1 in 3 going multiple days without eating. The Gaza Health Ministry reports over 100 starvation deaths since the war began, mostly children. Aid groups warn of "mass starvation," with 6,000 trucks carrying U.N. supplies stuck outside Gaza. The lack of food severely affects the human body, particularly children, causing muscles to shrink, organs to malfunction, and impairing brain development. Malnutrition can lead to a lifetime of health problems, including stunted growth, poor eyesight, and weakened immune systems. Doctors warn that surviving children may face lifelong health issues, and the situation is dire, with Gaza potentially running out of medicine to treat malnourished children by mid-August.

Nearly 100,000 women and children in Gaza are suffering from severe acute malnutrition, according to the UN's World Food Programme. CNN's Dr. Sanjay Gupta details the life-threatening conditions caused by hunger in Gaza, where Israel's blockade has led to widespread malnutrition, with Gaza's health ministry reporting 900,000 children going hungry and 70,000 showing signs of malnutrition.