The Dark History of Forced Starvation as a Weapon of War Against Indigenous Peoples

Strategic Insights -

As the global community responds to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, a dark history of forced starvation as a weapon of war against Indigenous peoples is re-emerging. In the Gaza Strip, over 500,000 Palestinians are experiencing famine, and the U.N. has accused Israel of using starvation as a savage weapon of war, constituting a crime under international law. This tactic is not new; settler colonialists in the U.S. and Canada have a long history of using starvation to conquer Indigenous peoples and acquire their land. From the founding of the U.S. and Canada to the 20th century, Indigenous communities were forced to leave their homelands, and their food systems were dismantled.

Key Takeaways:

  • The use of starvation as a weapon of war is not new; settler colonialists in the U.S. and Canada have a long history of employing this tactic against Indigenous peoples.
  • Over 500,000 Palestinians in Gaza are experiencing famine, and the U.N. has accused Israel of using starvation as a savage weapon of war.
  • The U.S. military forced over 10,000 Navajo to leave their homeland, destroying their villages, crops, and water supply.
  • In Canada, the near extinction of bison by settlers led to a famine on the Canadian Plains, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Indigenous people.
  • The use of starvation as a weapon of war has been documented throughout history, including in the U.S. and Canada, where it was used to acquire land and resources.
  • The effects of forced starvation on Indigenous communities continue to be felt today, with many families sharing stories of survival and loss.

Statistics:

  • Over 500,000 Palestinians in Gaza are experiencing famine.
  • The U.N. estimates that all 320,000 children under age 5 in Gaza are at risk of acute malnutrition.
  • The U.S. military forced over 10,000 Navajo to leave their homeland.
  • In Canada, the near extinction of bison by settlers led to a famine on the Canadian Plains, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Indigenous people.
  • The use of starvation as a weapon of war has been documented throughout history, including in the U.S. and Canada, where it was used to acquire land and resources.

Sources:

  • The Conversation -- USA: "The dark history of forced starvation as a weapon of war against Indigenous peoples" (262564)
  • AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi: "A 2-year-old malnourished child, sitting in the Shati refugee camp in Gaza City on July 23, 2025."
  • Integrated Food Security Phase Classification: "July 29, 2025, alert" (global initiative for improving food security and nutrition)
  • The New York Times: "Oxfam official Bushra Khalidi on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza"
  • The New York Times: "Ramesh Rajasingham, director of the U.N.'s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, on the crisis in Gaza"
  • James Daschuk: "Clearing the Plains: Disease, Politics of Starvation, and the Loss of Aboriginal Life" (2013 book)
  • Susan Sleeper-Smith: "Indigenous Prosperity and American Conquest" (2018 book)
  • John Ewers: "The Blackfeet" (historian's account of the "starvation winter" on the Blackfeet reservation)

By highlighting this dark history, we can better understand the ongoing struggles of Indigenous peoples and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.