Starvation in Gaza: A Man-Made Disaster

Strategic Insights -

Hunger and starvation have been imposed on the people of Gaza by Israel's restrictions on food aid, leading to widespread malnutrition and death. Despite warnings from aid agencies, the Israeli government has limited the amount of aid allowed into Gaza in the last week, making it unlikely to avert the famine that experts have been warning about for months. The effects of malnutrition are severe, with adults and children dying from hunger and starvation.

Key Takeaways:

  • 82 adults have died from malnutrition in Gaza over the last five weeks, with six more reported deaths on Sunday.
  • 93 children have been killed by Israel through man-made malnutrition since the war began.
  • The World Health Organization estimated in February 2024 that one in six children under the age of two in Gaza were acutely malnourished.
  • Israel has been controlling the amount of food allowed into Gaza for decades, suggesting it knows how much is needed to avert or cause starvation.
  • Documents show that between 2007 and 2010, Israel reduced the food allowed into Gaza to "minimal subsistence" levels.
  • Malnourished mothers give birth to underweight babies, with effects that "cascade through the generations".
  • Generationally, the damage of malnutrition is lasting, with increased prevalence of ailments such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease among survivors.
  • A child waits to receive food from a charity kitchen in Gaza City, August 2, 2025, highlighting the severity of the crisis.

Statistics:

  • 82 adults have starved to death in Gaza over the last five weeks.
  • 93 children have been killed by Israel through man-made malnutrition since the war began.
  • One in six children under the age of two in Gaza were acutely malnourished in February 2024, according to the World Health Organization.

Sources:

  • Al Jazeera
  • Dr. James Smith
  • Dr. Ghassan Abu-Sittah
  • World Health Organization
  • Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC)
  • Reuters

Note: The statistics and key takeaways are based on the original article, and any additional information or context may not be included.