Washington, DC — 22 May 2025
Israel’s war in Gaza has raised urgent concerns about the use of starvation as a method of warfare. The combination of sustained military operations and the longstanding blockade imposed by Israel and Egypt since 2007 has escalated into a severe public health crisis. More than 2 million residents face acute malnutrition, the collapse of the healthcare system, and a surge in preventable diseases—conditions that disproportionately affect children.
Deepening Malnutrition Crisis
Malnutrition in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels. This crisis is not only about food scarcity but also about the inability to access safe, nutritious, and sufficient food. Humanitarian organizations report that more than half of Gaza’s population is food insecure, with children bearing the greatest burden.
In northern Gaza, acute malnutrition among children under two has doubled within a single month, with one in three affected. Severe acute malnutrition (SAM), which carries an immediate risk of death, is increasingly prevalent. Malnutrition during early childhood has irreversible consequences, including impaired cognitive and physical development, increased susceptibility to chronic disease, and reduced life expectancy.
UN agencies report rising rates of stunting, wasting, and micronutrient deficiencies. Infants and young children are particularly vulnerable due to limited access to breastfeeding support, formula, clean water, and nutrient-rich foods.
Iron deficiency anemia is widespread, especially among children under five and pregnant women. This condition weakens immune systems, impairs cognitive development, and increases maternal health risks. Without sustained intervention, the long-term public health consequences will be severe.
The crisis is compounded by a surge in infectious diseases. More than 100,000 cases of diarrhea have been reported since mid-October, half affecting children under five. Respiratory infections, meningitis, and other preventable illnesses are also increasing. Malnutrition weakens immune defenses, amplifying vulnerability to disease.
Dire Humanitarian Conditions
According to the World Health Organization, approximately 93 percent of Gaza’s population is experiencing crisis-level hunger, with at least one in four households facing catastrophic conditions. These conditions are driven in part by restrictions on the flow of essential goods, including food, fuel, and medical supplies.
Community kitchens are shutting down. Hospitals are struggling to operate. Aid organizations are unable to meet overwhelming demand.
Children are particularly affected. Many have lost parents, homes, access to education, and healthcare. The combination of psychological trauma and physical deprivation places an entire generation at risk of long-term developmental harm. Humanitarian agencies continue to warn that conditions are “critical and deteriorating,” with increasing risk of mortality absent immediate intervention.
Collapse of the Healthcare System
Gaza’s healthcare system is nearing collapse. Facilities already weakened by years of blockade and underfunding are now overwhelmed by mass casualties and disease.
Infrastructure damage, shortages of medical supplies, and loss of personnel have critically reduced capacity. Approximately 1,000 healthcare workers have been killed since October 2023, further straining the system. Fuel shortages have caused widespread power outages, forcing hospitals to shut down essential services. By October 2024, more than half of Gaza’s hospitals had ceased operations, while the remainder functioned only partially.
The situation at Al-Shifa Hospital illustrates the severity of the crisis. As Gaza’s largest medical facility, it has faced repeated shortages of electricity, equipment, and essential medicines. In November 2023, the loss of generator power resulted in the deaths of premature infants and other patients. Reports from medical staff describe surgeries performed without adequate anesthesia, operating rooms lit by mobile phones, and preventable deaths due to a lack of basic supplies.
Overcrowded shelters and displacement camps, combined with limited access to clean water and sanitation, have accelerated the spread of infectious diseases, including diarrhea, respiratory infections, and skin conditions.
Humanitarian Access and Constraints
Humanitarian access to Gaza remains severely restricted. Aid deliveries are subject to delays, limitations, or denial. Despite repeated calls for ceasefires and humanitarian corridors, political and military constraints continue to impede relief efforts.
As of March 2025, no aid had entered Gaza for an extended period, despite prepared shipments capable of supporting hundreds of thousands of people. While limited aid deliveries have resumed intermittently, they remain insufficient to meet the scale of need.
The absence of a sustained and protected humanitarian access framework leaves civilians without reliable assistance. The United Nations has warned that without a significant increase in aid, Gaza faces the risk of full-scale famine.
Legal and Policy Implications
The conditions in Gaza raise serious concerns under international humanitarian law. The use of starvation as a method of warfare is prohibited, as is the obstruction of humanitarian relief for civilian populations.
While humanitarian aid is essential, it cannot substitute for structural solutions. Addressing the crisis requires political action to ensure sustained humanitarian access, restoration of critical infrastructure, and conditions that allow for economic recovery.
Without such measures, the current trajectory points toward prolonged humanitarian collapse, with long-term consequences for public health, regional stability, and international legal norms.
Photo Credit: palestine-gaza-good-aid-nuseirat-april-2025-eyad-baba-afp by coolloud. Licensed under CC BY NC ND 2.0
Lara Kajs is the founder and executive director of The Genocide Report (TGR). She has conducted extensive fieldwork in conflict and displacement settings, including Yemen, Syria, and Afghanistan. Her work focuses on humanitarian crises, international law, and atrocity prevention.