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| Gaza/photo/Getty image |
Twenty-one months into Israel's war in Gaza, the enclave is gripped by increasingly alarming scenes of death and hunger, with some killed trying to reach aid, others starving to death, and condemnation of Israel's conduct growing even among many close allies.
Palestinians in Gaza are suffering "mass starvation" caused by the aid blockade, the World Health Organization warned Wednesday.
"Parents tell us their children cry from hunger as they go to sleep," said Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
"Food distribution sites have become sites of violence." The United Nations says more than 1,000 people have been killed by Israeli forces searching for food since late May, when the controversial new Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), backed by Israel and the United States, began operations. Hundreds have died near GHF sites, according to the UN.
The group, created to replace the UN's aid role, has been widely criticized for its failure to improve conditions.
All 2.1 million people in Gaza are now food insecure. Gaza's health ministry said Tuesday that 900,000 children are going hungry, and 70,000 are already showing signs of malnutrition.
Before the war, Gaza was already one of the most isolated and densely populated places on Earth, with about two million people living in just 140 square miles. Israel maintained tight control through a long-standing land, air, and sea blockade, severely restricting the flow of goods and people. More than half of Gaza's residents were already food insecure and living below the poverty line, according to the UN. Before October 2023, between 500 and 600 aid trucks entered Gaza daily. That figure has since dropped to an average of just 28 trucks per day, according to aid groups. It is unclear whether this includes GHF trucks.
Following international pressure, aid trucks finally entered Gaza in late October. A temporary ceasefire commenced on November 24, which briefly increased the flow of aid before it collapsed a week later. Deliveries diminished once more, and stringent Israeli inspections caused delays in supplies. Israel asserted that screening was essential to stop Hamas from misappropriating aid. Humanitarian officials accused Israel of intentionally hindering shipments.
The Israeli campaign also focused on the UN’s aid infrastructure, claiming inefficiency and infiltration by Hamas. The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) faced accusations of employing individuals linked to the October 7 attack. A UN investigation revealed that nine out of 13,000 employees based in Gaza may have been involved, and they were no longer associated with the agency.
In January, Israel prohibited UNRWA from functioning in Gaza, cutting off essential services such as food, healthcare, and education for hundreds of thousands.
As the Israeli campaign devastated large areas of Gaza and displaced the majority of residents, lawlessness began to spread. Looting became an obstacle to aid delivery, and casualties increased at distribution points. Israel attributed the chaos to Hamas and armed gangs. The UN cautioned of a potential civil collapse within weeks of the conflict. By November 2024, it reported that the ability to deliver aid was “completely gone.”
In a significant looting event, over 100 trucks were lost. Drivers were compelled to unload at gunpoint, aid workers sustained injuries, and vehicles were damaged.
With Hamas’ influence weakened and the police force severely diminished, gangs arose to steal and resell aid. Israel also equipped local militias to combat Hamas — a decision that critics argue could lead to long-term instability. This was the closest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to suggesting an alternative governance for Gaza, as he continued to evade outlining a post-war governance plan.
On January 19, a temporary ceasefire briefly facilitated the resumption of aid, although the amounts delivered were still significantly inadequate. Following the expiration of this truce on March 2, Israel reinstated a full blockade and resumed military operations weeks later, citing the need to pressure Hamas into accepting new ceasefire conditions and releasing hostages.
By July, the World Food Programme reported that a quarter of Gaza's population was experiencing famine-like conditions, with at least 80 children succumbing to malnutrition, primarily after the March blockade, according to the WHO and Gaza's health ministry.
In May, the Global Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) commenced operations, supported by Israel and the U.S., effectively taking over the role previously held by the UN.
However, just days before its launch, GHF director Jake Wood resigned, expressing concerns about the organization's ability to adhere to humanitarian principles of humanity, neutrality, impartiality, and independence.
The foundation aimed to prevent Hamas from accessing aid and coordinated closely with the Israeli military, relying on private contractors for security.
The UN declined to participate, deeming the operational model a breach of fundamental humanitarian principles. Unlike the UN, which managed numerous distribution sites, GHF operates only a few in southern and central Gaza, leading to large crowds gathering at these limited locations.
GHF defends its approach as a "secure model" designed to prevent looting, yet shortly after its launch on May 27, individuals seeking aid reported coming under fire near GHF distribution points, with Palestinian officials and witnesses attributing most fatalities to Israeli troops. While Israel acknowledged firing warning shots in certain instances, it denied responsibility for other incidents.