Gaza hunger crisis worsens amid deadly aid chaos
Starvation deaths rise as food runs out and hundreds die seeking aid
Dozens of Palestinians lined up outside a makeshift soup kitchen in Khan Younis, clutching empty pots in hopes of receiving basic meals like rice or lentils. The scene reflects Gaza’s deepening humanitarian crisis, where hunger and desperation have become daily realities for thousands. Residents, including the elderly, wait for hours, often leaving empty-handed as food runs out.
Gaza's health ministry reported five new deaths from starvation or malnutrition, bringing the total to 180 since the war began, including 93 children. Humanitarian agencies warn that the territory is entering a “worst-case scenario of famine,” with widespread malnutrition, especially among children, and a collapsing aid infrastructure.
While Israel has recently allowed more aid trucks to enter Gaza—more than 600 since easing restrictions—distribution remains dangerously chaotic. Many trucks are looted by desperate crowds or armed groups before reaching their intended destinations. Aid groups say airdrops from foreign countries and Israel are insufficient, and much of the aid remains stuck at entry points due to logistical and security challenges.
At least 26 people were killed while trying to access aid during chaotic scenes near distribution sites. Witnesses reported that Israeli forces opened fire amid surging crowds, claiming they were responding to dangerous unrest. Over 1,000 people have died attempting to obtain aid since late May, according to U.N. and local sources, with more than 600 others injured or killed near distribution points.
Despite temporary ceasefires and aid corridors, the situation continues to deteriorate. Community kitchens are overwhelmed, hospitals are under strain, and families are forced to make perilous journeys for food. The blockade, ongoing conflict, and breakdown of order have turned aid access into a deadly struggle, leaving Gaza’s population facing acute food insecurity and mass suffering.
