Starving Palestinians: Famine engineered by Gaza blockade

With Gaza now in Phase 5 famine—the deadliest level—the enclave faces a man-made hunger catastrophe. Children, mothers, the elderly, and the wounded are dying as Israel blocks thousands of aid trucks at the border.

Death toll from hunger (as of July 24, 2025)

• Total deaths: 113
  – Children: 81
  – Adults: 32

Alarming surge in July

• June: 5 deaths
• July (so far): 48 deaths
  – Children: 28
  – Adults: 20

 Famine status

• Gaza has entered Phase 5 famine — the most severe level on the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)
• Indicates mass starvation and death

 Child malnutrition crisis

• 28,677 cases in children under 5
• 260,000+ children in urgent need of nutrition
• Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) + Moderate Acute Malnutrition (MAM):
  – June: 6,551 cases
  – First half of July: 6,910 new cases

 Mothers and newborns at risk

• 100,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women suffering severe deficiencies
• 1,556 preterm births
• 3,120 stillbirths or miscarriages in 2025 — likely linked to maternal starvation

 Vulnerable populations

• 159,000+ elderly people at high risk of starvation
• 18,000 wounded at critical risk due to hunger and lack of medicine

Aid blockade

• Israel’s total blockade since March 2 prevents all food, medicine, and aid
• 6,000 UN aid trucks still waiting at border, blocked from entry
• UN declares: Gaza is at final famine stage

Health Ministry warning

“These numbers only reflect confirmed cases. The real toll is likely much higher.”

Source: Palestinian Health Ministry in Gaza