By Lara Kajs
Thinking Out Loud
Gaza’s humanitarian crisis has reached catastrophic levels, with civilians caught between a man-made famine and ongoing military operations. Aid access is perilous, and reports indicate that Israeli restrictions and military actions have contributed directly to starvation and civilian deaths. International organizations and eyewitnesses are raising alarms about the urgent need for intervention, yet political solutions remain stalled.
In Gaza, a region long defined by hardship, the humanitarian crisis has reached unprecedented levels. Over two million Palestinians now face a grim choice: starve slowly in the ruins of their homes or risk death venturing to aid centers under threat of airstrikes, sniper fire, or chaotic crowds.
Humanitarian organizations, international observers, and independent analysts are warning that Gaza is experiencing a man-made famine. Critics contend that Israeli military and political decisions are contributing directly to civilian suffering, raising serious concerns under international humanitarian law.
People are already dying of hunger. This is not a natural disaster. This is the consequence of human decisions.” – UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food
Starvation as a Weapon
According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), large areas of Gaza are in IPC Phase 5 – famine-like conditions – as of mid-2025. The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) warns that “complete societal collapse” is imminent without immediate, large-scale aid. Families are surviving on stale bread, powdered milk, or nothing at all. Malnutrition is widespread, particularly among children under five, and starvation-related deaths are increasingly reported, many unrecorded due to the chaos.
Satellite imagery, eyewitness accounts, and UN assessments show widespread destruction of farmland, bakeries, water systems, and food storage, often from airstrikes. Local food production is virtually nonexistent, leaving civilians dependent on humanitarian aid. “People are already dying of hunger,” said the UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. “This is not a natural disaster. This is the consequence of human decisions.”
Aid Centers: A Risky Lifeline
For many Gazans, the only hope lies in humanitarian aid centers, typically set up by the UN, the ICRC (Red Crescent), or local NGOs. But reaching them is a journey fraught with danger. Roads are often closed or bombed. Armed drones circle overhead. People walking long distances with their children or pushing carts often do not return. Witnesses have said that going to aid centers is like walking into a death trap. There are reports of bodies on the street, people trampled in crowds, and frequently, the center is hit by bombardments. Civilians seeking aid have been injured or killed by Israeli forces, including sniper fire near designated aid distribution points or routes.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a project established by Israel and the US, operates four aid distribution centers in Gaza, located in areas under the control of the IDF. These sites have been the subject of controversy due to reports of chaos and violence surrounding the distribution process. Since the GHF began operating in May 2025, more than 1,200 Palestinians have been killed trying to access aid at GHF locations.
The Blockade and Restricted Access
Central to the crisis are Israeli restrictions on the entry of food, fuel, and humanitarian aid into Gaza. Since October 2023, a full siege has been implemented, leaving large areas inaccessible. While some easing has occurred under international pressure, aid convoys face inspections, long delays, and ongoing hostilities. Crossings like Rafah and Kerem Shalom have operated only intermittently, and infrastructure destruction further limits relief efforts.
Human Toll
Doctors and aid workers report children dying from malnutrition in their clinics. UNICEF warns that child wasting and malnutrition have reached catastrophic levels, with cases of kwashiorkor and marasmus, severe protein and calorie deficiencies, appearing in clinics lacking electricity or medical supplies. Families are forced to make impossible choices: risk death to fetch food or remain at home and face starvation.
One Gaza doctor said, “We are watching children die of hunger in front of our eyes. Not from a lack of will. Not from a lack of aid. But from barriers created by men.”
International agencies have called for sustained humanitarian ceasefires, protected aid routes, and the opening of more border crossings. But as political negotiations stall and military operations continue, the people of Gaza are left alone in their desperation.
A Moral Collapse
The crisis in Gaza is not only humanitarian but also a moral one. Civilians are deprived of the right to live free from impossible choices. The world watches as life-sustaining aid is blocked or rendered dangerous to access, while international diplomacy struggles to intervene effectively. The question is no longer whether the crisis is urgent – it is whether those with power will act before Gaza is emptied of hope and its people.
Photo credit: A mother cries for her 4-year-old daughter, who lost her life due to malnutrition and lack of treatment, due to the war in Gaza. Photo by Ashaf Amra – UNRWA – 14 August 2024. Licensed under CC BY SA 4.0
Published 17 July 2025
Author’s note: If you found this article important, please consider sharing it or supporting organizations providing aid to Gaza’s civilians. Their survival may depend on global action.
About Thinking Out Loud
Thinking Out Loud is a commentary series by Lara Kajs examining international law, humanitarian crises, and the prevention of mass atrocities. Drawing on field experience in conflict and displacement settings, the column explores the legal and policy challenges that shape contemporary conflicts.
Lara Kajs is the founder and executive director of The Genocide Report, a Washington, DC-based educational nonprofit focused on atrocity prevention and international law. She is the author of several field-based books on conflict, displacement, humanitarian crises, and international humanitarian law, drawing on extensive research and field experience in Yemen, Syria, and Afghanistan. Her writing and public speaking focus on atrocity crimes, forced displacement, the protection of civilians, and the legal frameworks governing armed conflict.