Gaza Famine Deepens as Seven More Die from Malnutrition; Aid Convoys Looted Amid Israeli Offensive
Gaza Strip – The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to spiral as seven more people, including children, have died from malnutrition in the past 24 hours, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The total death toll from starvation since the onset of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023 has now reached 154, with 89 of the victims being children.
The grim figures come just a day after a UN-backed panel of global food security experts warned that “the worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out” in the besieged Palestinian territory.
Despite Israel’s claims that it is not blocking humanitarian aid, UN agencies, European allies, and aid groups operating on the ground dispute this, citing continued restrictions and insecurity surrounding aid distribution.
Aid Convoys Overwhelmed, Deliveries Looted
According to aid sources, just 109 aid trucks crossed into Gaza on Tuesday—far below the 600 daily trucks the UN says are needed to alleviate the crisis. Eyewitnesses reported that most trucks failed to reach their intended destinations, with convoys overwhelmed by desperate crowds. Footage shows people scrambling for sacks of flour—some for survival, others to resell in local markets.
Deadly Clashes Near Aid Centres
Violence continues to erupt near aid distribution points. On Wednesday morning, six Palestinians were reportedly killed near a Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution site in Rafah. Gaza hospital sources claim an Israeli tank targeted crowds attempting to access aid before the site opened.
However, GHF denied any fatalities occurred at or near their locations, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said troops fired “warning shots” at what it described as a “gathering of suspects” hundreds of metres away from the facility. The IDF added that “initial reviews” suggest the reported casualty figures do not match its intelligence.
Later, the Hamas-run health ministry reported 103 deaths in the past 24 hours, including 60 people killed while seeking aid. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) confirmed that two hospitals received six bodies and were treating 274 injured following another aid-related incident in Zikim, northern Gaza.
U.S. Envoy to Visit Israel Amid Ceasefire Deadlock
In a diplomatic development, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Israel on Thursday to discuss the worsening humanitarian situation and efforts to revive ceasefire talks. It will be Witkoff’s first visit in nearly three months and follows the collapse of recent negotiations in Qatar, with the U.S. accusing Hamas of not negotiating “in good faith.”
Escalating Tensions Over Recognition of Palestinian State
Meanwhile, Israel has reacted angrily to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s announcement that Britain will recognize a Palestinian state in September, contingent on Israel’s agreement to a ceasefire and renewed engagement on a two-state solution.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the move as a reward for “Hamas’ monstrous terrorism.” Former hostage Emily Damari, a British-Israeli citizen held by Hamas for over 15 months, accused Sir Keir of “not standing on the right side of history.”
Death Toll Mounts as Crisis Deepens
The health ministry in Gaza reports that 60,138 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing Israeli offensive. The war began after Hamas militants launched a surprise attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages.
The conflict, combined with Israel’s imposition of a total blockade in March, has pushed Gaza to the brink. While the blockade was partially lifted under international pressure, severe shortages of food, medicine, and fuel persist, with no clear end in sight.
