Children in and this is an immediate result of the Israeli government’s decision four months ago to suspend all aid to the Palestinian enclave. That although efforts have been made in recent months to overthrow exclusion, this situation still has a devastating and continuing effects on vulnerable Palestinians.
It is worth noting that although initially infants lost their lives in hunger, now elderly people die of malnutrition.
The Ministry of Health, which is run by Hamas, estimates that in July, people who have lost their lives out of malnutrition exceeds 100, including at least 80 are children. It is also noted that a total of 60,000 are the dead Palestinians since the beginning of the war in the Gaza Strip. At the same time, the UN has also reported several deaths to the Palestinian enclave due to hunger.
At least 16 children, under 5 years of age, have died from July 17 to 30, from hunger -related diseases. While half a million people are currently experiencing a “extreme shortage of food”, according to. While another one says directly, that “the Palestinians in Gaza are dying of hunger.”
What is it like to die of hunger?
“The voices of the kids crying from hunger never stop. Every day, people knock on our doors asking for food. Not money – only bread, “said Rania al -Srechi, a member of the International Rescue Committee in Gaza in the news media. Dr. James Smith, who has volunteered twice in the area, explained that it is awful to die of hunger.
Initially, the body that does not feed for several days gradually begins to break down muscles and other tissues in order to have energy. The doctor emphasized that he is one of the most inappropriate and barbaric ways of killing. “Starring is always something that is done from one person to another. It is intended to extend and maximize suffering, “Dr. James Smith added.
Soon, metabolism begins to slow down. The ability to regulate temperature is lost and the kidney function is weakened. In Gaza mainly, the immune system begins to “fall” and the body can no longer heal, with the same ease, injuries to the body.
When the body stocks are exhausted, the nutrients stop being channeled into vital organs and tissues. As a result, basic organs, such as the heart and lungs, become ineffective. Muscles shrink and people feel a general weakness. Ultimately, protein reserves are destroyed, tissues break down and death is not too far away.
How long does it take to die from famine?
Scientific research on this subject is limited for moral reasons. But expert estimates say that typically a healthy adult could survive without food for 45 to 61 days.
In Gaza, there are few people who could be described as well -nourished and healthy. This makes many Palestinians vulnerable to malnutrition, but also in infectious diseases.
“With hunger, the body loses the ability to start an immune response to diseases or injuries that it could normally cope with, such as gastroenteritis, trauma or respiratory infection, so often malnutrition combined with an infection is what kills.”
Which people are more at risk of starvation?
The elderly, the children, the already sick, as well as those who are alone. “A child will die earlier than hunger. Loss of muscle mass and fat happens almost immediately. Accordingly, those who belong to older groups will also die faster, “Dr. Gassan Abu-Sitah, a physician of British and Palestinian descent, told Gaza for 43 days.
“Palestinians in Gaza die of hunger”
He clarifies that not only is the issue of age, but there are also social differences. “At the moment there are thousands of orphans around Gaza. There is no one to feed them or risk their lives to find food, so they are also more likely to die, “he explained, describing the situation in the Palestinian enclave.
Who are dying of hunger in Gaza?
The items are overwhelming. The threat of death from starvation in Gaza after Israel’s continued in various areas has gradually spread throughout the Palestinian enclave.
In February 2024, five months after the start of the war, the WHO estimated that one in six children under the age of two was severely malnourished, especially in the northern part of Gaza, which was then under an Israeli siege. While within five weeks until early August 2025, 82 adults have died of hunger.
How has chronic food restriction in Gaza affected people there?
This means that the Israeli state knows exactly how much time and how much food is needed to cause or avoid a famine in the Palestinian enclave.
The News Agency notes that “the UN Humanitarian Coordination Office (OCHA) said that eating food across the Gaza has decreased to its lowest level since the start of the war.” He adds that out of 33% of households he said in April, poor food consumption now reaches 81%.
In 2007, after the occupation of the Palestinian enclave by Hamas, Israel imposed the first blockade. In this way he reduced the help that allowed to be introduced to Gaza. At the same time, he provided public assurances that he was not starving people. Although documents were published by a legal dispute between Israeli government and NGOs, which prove that from 2007 to 2010, Israel deliberately reduced food in Gaza that allowed “minimal levels of living”.
Indicative are the rates of decrease in arable land in Gaza, as quoted by the newspaper “” with (FAO). In particular, the percentage of these areas reached 4%in April, but in early August this figure reached only 1.5%. This suggests that Israel is targeting agricultural land in the Palestinian enclave.
Dr. Gassan Abu-Sitah also notes that malnutrition damage is permanent and passes from generation to generation. He himself refers to the effects of starvation on brain function and the prevalence of other diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, as well as heart disease, among survivors.
In addition, Dr. James Smith emphasized that malnourished mothers often give birth to fatweight babies, and this has the impact of transmitting many generation to generation problems.
Can the famine be avoided in Gaza?
It is unlikely to avoid famine, as experts inform. There are three strict criteria to officially declare a famine, as recorded by Dr. Jones. The first two are the extreme deficiency of food and high levels of malnutrition, which are already occurring in Gaza. The third is the levels of mortality from malnutrition, which cannot be accurately confirmed, according to Dr. Jones.
In fact, he explained why: “Some of those who are most at risk of dying of malnutrition may not be able to reach the hospital where deaths are recorded.” Correspondingly, he adds that many children, although showing signs of malnutrition, die of Israeli fire, and this is recorded as the cause of their death.
Between June and July, the number of imports due to malnutrition almost doubled – from 6,344 to 11,877 – according to the latest UNICEF data available.
“However, whatever the term we use to describe the situation, people are still dying of hunger throughout Gaza, while the (rest) world is watching,” Dr. Jones said. “This is worse than hunger. It is the most tragic sight of misery, “he concluded.
“Gaza is now on the verge of a complete famine. People are starving not because there is no food available, but because access is blocked, local agri -food systems have collapsed and families can no longer maintain even the most basic means of living, “said FAO General Manager Mr. Dongiou.
“We urgently need safe and constant humanitarian access and immediate support to restore local food production and means of living. This is the only way to prevent further loss of life. The right to food is a basic human right, “he added.
Finally, Michael Fakir, a UN special rapporteur for the right to food, told the newspaper “” that “Israel has built the most effective starvation machine you can imagine. So, while it is always shocking to see people starving, no one should be surprised. All information has been made public since the beginning of 2024. “
What does the US government think about the starvation in Gaza?
On the other hand, the Israeli government denies that there is a famine in the Palestinian enclave. However, the US president recently argued about these views that “there is a real famine in Gaza – you can’t pretend.”
When Donald Trump was asked about whether he agrees with Benjamin Netanyahu, he replied that no. “Based on what I see on television, I would say not particularly, because these kids look very hungry,” he noted. He also noted that “in Gaza there is real hunger – you can’t pretend.”
The humanitarian crisis in Gaza is worse than ever and talks for ceasefire has collapsed, he stresses.
Donald Trump, as well as his government officials, admit privately and publicly that their strategy has not attributed them. However, it is not obvious if they are intended to change something, or what is it.
It is recalled that the US government has supported the handling of the crisis in Gaza by Israel for the past six months, even. But the government now weighs a policy change in an effort to accelerate the end of war and improve the humanitarian situation.
At the same time, “more and more evidence shows that extensive hunger, malnutrition and diseases lead to increased hunger deaths,” said the report of integrated UN -related food safety classification and recently published.
“Immediate measures must be taken to end the hostilities and make it possible to make it possible to save lives that will save lives. This is the only solution to stop further deaths and destructive human misery, ”says.
