The humanitarian situation in Gaza has reached a critical level. According to recent reports, more than 120 people, including children, have died from hunger. Medical personnel and international organizations report widespread famine and severe exhaustion among civilians.
One of the most striking images illustrating the crisis is a photo of an emaciated child wrapped in a plastic bag, held by their mother in a refugee tent. This image has become a symbol of the disaster engulfing the enclave.
According to the local Ministry of Health, at least 40 people have died of starvation in the past few days alone. Hospitals are overwhelmed, the number of patients with severe malnutrition is rising daily, and medical staff lack even basic supplies for treatment.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has classified the situation as a “man-made famine.” In July, over 5,000 children suffering from chronic malnutrition were admitted to hospitals, about 800 of them in critical condition. Medical facilities are without medicine, equipment, electricity, or even fuel to power generators.
The crisis escalated after Israel completely halted humanitarian aid deliveries to Gaza in March, following the collapse of a two-month ceasefire. Despite partial easing of the blockade in May, supplies remain limited, and shortages of food, water, and medicine have worsened.
According to humanitarian agencies, nearly one-third of Gaza’s population has gone without food for several consecutive days. Around half a million people are now in a state of extreme hunger, unable to meet basic caloric needs. Bakeries are closing, markets are empty, and prices for bread and water have multiplied. Volunteers are working on the verge of physical collapse, with some fainting from exhaustion.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military operation “Gideon’s Chariots” continues across most of the enclave. Israeli forces now control key towns and corridors, pushing civilians into increasingly confined areas. According to the UN, up to 88% of Gaza's territory is under evacuation orders or direct military control.
Millions have been displaced into the remaining “safe zones,” deepening the humanitarian collapse. Thousands of evacuees lack shelter, water, electricity, and medical care.
International humanitarian missions are operating under extreme pressure. The UN warns that without immediate intervention and unobstructed humanitarian access, the death toll will continue to rise rapidly.