Why Gaza is starving, how the aid system broke down, and what the world is doing about it

Displaced Palestinians rushed to a nearby hospital after they were reportedly hit by Israeli tanks near a Gaza aid centre. (Image: AP)

Twenty-one months into Israel’s war in Gaza, the humanitarian crisis has reached catastrophic levels. Children are dying of starvation, crowds are being shot at while waiting for food, and a growing number of aid organizations are sounding alarms over what they call a man-made famine. The World Health Organization now warns of “mass starvation,” while more than 100 international humanitarian groups have condemned Israel’s continued blockade and called for a ceasefire, CNN reported.

The war and the complete siege that followed

After Hamas' deadly October 7, 2023 attack killed 1,200 people and led to more than 250 hostage takings, Israel launched a “complete siege” of Gaza. This included cutting off electricity, fuel, water, and all aid. While Gaza had long operated under strict Israeli restrictions, the total blockade marked a turning point, rapidly pushing its 2.1 million residents into an acute humanitarian crisis. Food insecurity skyrocketed, and only a tiny trickle of aid—about 28 trucks per day compared to 500-600 before the war—has entered the enclave since.

The collapse of the UN-led aid model

Israel’s crackdown extended beyond the blockade. It suspended the operations of the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Gaza’s largest aid provider, over alleged links between a handful of staff and the October 7 attacks. This decision cut off food, healthcare, and basic services for hundreds of thousands. UN investigations found nine staff members “may have” been involved, but Israel used this to justify shutting down the entire network. With UN channels blocked, looting and chaos surged. Armed gangs, weakened police, and even militias armed by Israel contributed to the breakdown of aid delivery.

The rise—and deadly failures—of the GHF

In May, Israel and the United States launched the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a new aid system designed to bypass Hamas and the UN. GHF promised “secure and independent” distribution, working with Israeli military clearance and private contractors. But from its inception, the model faced criticism for having too few sites and violating core humanitarian principles. GHF’s own director resigned just before operations began, citing an inability to adhere to neutrality and independence.

Since May, the UN reports that over 1,000 people have been killed by Israeli fire while trying to access aid—many near GHF distribution points. Israeli forces have admitted to firing warning shots in some instances but denied targeting civilians. Meanwhile, the system continues to fail at reaching northern and central Gaza in any meaningful capacity.

Mass hunger, shooting at aid lines, and aid workers starving

Gaza’s Health Ministry says at least 111 people have now died from starvation and malnutrition—ten of them in the last 24 hours alone. The World Food Programme estimates a quarter of Gaza’s population now faces famine-like conditions, and 70,000 children show signs of acute malnutrition. Even aid workers, journalists, and doctors are now reportedly starving. On Monday, 111 humanitarian groups issued a joint warning: “Supplies are totally depleted… we are watching our colleagues waste away.”

Global pressure rises—but Israel refuses to yield

International criticism of Israel’s aid restrictions is intensifying, including from 25 Western foreign ministers who condemned the “drip feeding” of aid. Israel’s foreign ministry has rejected the criticism as “disconnected from reality,” blaming Hamas for seeking to manipulate the crisis. Israeli officials say they want more aid to enter Gaza—but only under the new GHF model, which the UN has refused to support due to its lack of neutrality and limited reach.