"No Starvation in Gaza"? Facts and Figures
- ACRI
- 19 minutes ago
- 7 min read
Since the beginning of the war, professional and humanitarian organizations have been warning about food insecurity in Gaza and the growing concern about the spread of starvation. The starvation is the result of a combination of circumstances, with the complete or partial closure of border crossings, fighting, and movement restrictions resulting from the fighting. These have caused areas to be isolated, a result of being enclosed in military corridors; area closure orders; the declaration of "kill zones;" major and severe damage to agriculture and fishing, to the point that these sectors have shut down; and the imposition of restrictions on the activities of humanitarian aid organizations.
Israel made tactical use of its control over border crossings in order to limit and direct the entry of food and other essential goods into Gaza. On October 9, 2023, days after the outbreak of the war, a complete siege was declared on Gaza, and the entry of all goods was completely halted. During the ceasefire in January 2025, there was a significant improvement in the population's access to food, but this was erased as a result of the complete siege subsequently imposed on Gaza and the nine-week closure of border crossings starting March 18, 2025. This period exhausted the food and fuel reserves that were in Gaza.
In addition, in February 2025, when the borders opened for the entry of food and fuel (though in insufficient quantities), a decision was made to almost completely prevent community kitchens and distribution points from operating by setting regulatory restrictions. For example, aid organizations were prohibited from running warehouses and logistics centers and storing food in them, and many restrictions were imposed on coordination and movement. The avoidance of bringing fuel into Gaza continued for more than three months after the collapse of the ceasefire.
In February 2025, the "Gaza Humanitarian Fund" (GHF) was established under American and Israeli auspices. The straightforward format for aid distribution previously operated by the UN and health and food organizations in Gaza, which included hundreds of kitchens, distribution points, and bakeries, was replaced by the establishment of four remote distribution points. The fund distributes dry food that requires cooking, though there is a severe shortage of cooking utensils and energy sources. The distribution centers operate under conditions that do not allow the most vulnerable and needy populations access to aid, because great physical strength is required to reach the distribution points, to receive any food at all once there, and to carry the aid out. The distribution stations and routes leading to them are secured with solders carrying weapons, and hundreds of people who arrived for food that would enable them and their families to survive were shot dead within or near the distribution points. Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that 1,239 people were shot and killed at various sites in recent months while trying to reach food aid.
In April and May 2025, there was a significant rise in reports noting a disturbing increase in the number of cases in acute malnutrition, especially among women, children, and infants. This did not lead to a sharp and immediate change in policy regarding the entry and distribution of aid. This week, the UN Hunger Experts Organization (IPC) published the most severe warning to date regarding the situation in Gaza. In its report, the organization—which is considered to be the leading international authority when it comes to monitoring hunger—determined that all areas in Gaza are in a state of nutritional emergency, with a real risk of catastrophic famine. In the northern Gaza district, where the situation is particularly severe due to its isolation from the rest of the Strip, the state of affairs cannot be verified due to lack of data. The IPC warning also indicates that almost nine out of ten families are forced to take extreme measures to obtain food, including risking their personal safety and searching for food in garbage.
According to data from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), food consumption throughout the Gaza Strip has deteriorated dramatically, reaching its lowest level since October 2023. In July 2025, 81% of families reported poor food consumption (compared to only 33% in April 2025), and 24% of families reported experiencing very severe hunger (compared to 4% in April). According to several hunger indices, Gaza is already defined as an area suffering from mass famine: thousands of children are suffering from extreme malnutrition, and tens of thousands of residents, adults and children alike, suffer from acute malnutrition, a condition requiring immediate medical treatment. The data shows that 39% of Gaza residents are forced to avoid eating for days, and about half a million people (about a quarter of the population) experience daily hunger. The rest of the residents face severe food insecurity.
Between May and July 2025, the rate of cases of acute malnutrition doubled in Khan Younis and increased by 70% in Deir al-Balah. In Gaza City, the rate of acute malnutrition (GAM) jumped from 4.4% in May to 16.5% in the first half of July, beyond the famine threshold according to this index.
The Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that since the beginning of the war, 147 people have died from malnutrition, including 88 children. In the last ten days alone, about 60 Gazans died from hunger. According to estimates, many thousands more are at immediate risk and/or will suffer serious and irreversible health damage. Moreover, according to a recently published report, more than 3,500 pregnant women suffered miscarriages due to malnutrition and major deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and protein, as well as low fluid intake. The Ministry's Director-General, Dr. Munir al-Barsh, was sharply critical of the humanitarian pauses: "They do not feed the hungry and do not save the wounded." According to him, "while children writhe from hunger, mothers collapse in front of the gates of hospitals that have ceased to function."
The Gaza Humanitarian Forum also warned that despite the steps taken to improve the situation, malnutrition continues to grow. Alongside acute hunger, organizations also report a critical shortage of medical equipment, medicines, and hospital beds.
The Failures and Barriers Affecting Humanitarian Aid
Beyond the fact that the aid currently entering Gaza is insufficient, humanitarian activity in Gaza is subject to significant limitations affecting access, logistics, staffing, and security. Consequently, beyond the urgent need to bring in sufficient, regular, and continuous aid on a daily basis (including varied and fresh food, medical food and formula, fuel and cooking gas, medicines, medical equipment, and nutritional supplements), there is also an urgent need to lift the logistical barriers that prevent aid from reaching all those who need it.
In a publication distributed this week, experts from UN agencies defined the main challenges. Aid organizations emphasize that without immediate and systemic solutions to these challenges, it will not be possible to expand the scope of humanitarian activity, even if a ceasefire or temporary pause occurs:
Reduction of humanitarian space under fighting: Humanitarian and medical aid workers and facilities are forced to operate in dangerous conditions and under extensive restrictions. Today, almost 90% of Gaza is under movement restrictions and evacuation orders, and has been declared by the army as dangerous or prohibited to entry. Fighting and accelerated bombing near humanitarian coordination corridors, waiting points for supply convoys, and humanitarian facilities approved by the army leaves aid workers and their facilities at constant risk. As a result, the ability to move and provide aid is increasingly impaired, and aid distribution is often impossible.
Chaos and collapse of the rule of law: The collapse of all government authorities in Gaza, including civilian police forces, has led to insecurity for aid convoys at border crossings and along distribution routes. This is exacerbated by an increase in the activity of armed gangs. In addition, the degree of distress that Gaza residents have reached causes hungry and desperate masses to raid aid convoys before they reach their destination. This limits the ability of aid workers to reach vulnerable communities, increases frustration toward the UN, and creates real security risks.
Military denials and delays in aid passage: Consistent reports from aid organizations indicate that UN convoys encounter frequent delays and even denials of coordination approvals from the military, in ways that result in the enormous waste of time and resources. For example, in southern Gaza, the coordination process and aid distribution for a single truck traveling from the border crossing to its destination in population centers takes about 20 hours. The ability to reach several populated areas, particularly neighborhoods north of Gaza City, requires especially complex coordination and is systematically denied.
Poor communication within Gaza and missing logistical infrastructure: Frequent disruptions in the cellular network as a result of infrastructure damage; frequent phone, GPS, and satellite jamming by the military; and the use of outdated communication equipment do not allow aid workers to maintain continuous and efficient coordination. Alongside permit refusals, bureaucracy, and logistical and movement restrictions, coordination and communication difficulties cause significant slowdowns and damage to aid distribution.
Damaged and congested road infrastructure: As a result of military attacks, about 68% of roads in Gaza are damaged, making it difficult to reach all part of the Strip. The high congestion in southern Gaza also impairs mobility. Most routes that the military allocates for the passage of aid are not suitable for truck convoys, or are controlled by criminal gangs or other dangerous groups. When a route is defined as unsafe or at risk of robbery, there is usually no approved alternative.
Shortage of logistical equipment: The military prevents humanitarian organizations from bringing armored vehicles, personal protective equipment for team members, spare parts for trucks, shelters, and storage containers into Gaza. There is a shortage of warehouse storage space due to repeated evacuation orders from the military in areas where humanitarian organizations previously operated and stored supplies, as well as orders restricting or preventing the transfer of food for storage until distribution. Additionally, there is a significant shortage of vehicles that can be used for distribution within Gaza.
Unpredictable and inefficient crossings and supply lines: The crossings through which aid arrives to Gaza (border crossings from the West Bank, Jordan and Egypt to Israel and to the Gaza Strip) do not operate regularly and continuously, and are often closed unexpectedly. This does not allow for planning and management of aid supply routes. Humanitarian activities are, by necessity, conducted ad-hoc, according to availability and not according to need. Additionally, Israel has established complex customs procedures, particularly for transferring medical items, and does not allow centralized logistical management at crossings through the UN.
Barriers to fuel transfer: The military has restricted the method of fuel distribution and determined that a single private supplier will supply fuel to all humanitarian organizations. The large-scale supply of fuel is only possible through the Kerem Shalom crossing, which means that northern Gaza depends on the coordinated transfer from the south.
Restrictions on organizations that can transfer aid: Since May 19, 2025, most international organizations and local Palestinian organizations are not included in the list of organizations deemed eligible by the military for crossing permits and aid convoy coordination. UN agencies also encounter growing operational restrictions, and Israeli legislation and policies that reduce their ability to operate.
Restrictions on humanitarian teams: Israel increasingly restricts the entry of aid workers to the Gaza Strip by denying and canceling visas for non-substantive reasons (for example, as a consequence for criticism of Israel). The physical passage routes for workers are also limited: the Rafah crossing is closed to worker movement. Entry of UN personnel and humanitarian organizations is only possible through Kerem Shalom, and exiting Israel is possible for the same workers only through Jordan.