Mass Starvation Grips Gaza as Over 100 Aid Agencies Accuse Israel of Blocking Relief
In a dramatic escalation of humanitarian concerns, more than 100 leading aid organizations have issued an urgent plea, warning that mass starvation is rapidly engulfing Gaza amid Israeli-imposed restrictions that they say have turned a worsening food crisis into a man-made catastrophe.
A joint letter signed by 109 humanitarian agencies — including Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), Oxfam International, Amnesty International, and others — directly accuses the Israeli government of systematically obstructing the delivery and distribution of essential life-saving aid to Gaza’s 2.3 million people, most of whom are now internally displaced.
“Just outside Gaza, in warehouses – and even within Gaza itself – tons of food, clean water, medical supplies, shelter items, and fuel sit untouched,” the letter states. “The Government of Israel’s restrictions, delays, and fragmentation under its total siege have created chaos, starvation, and death.”
One aid worker inside Gaza was quoted saying children have begun telling their parents they want to “go to heaven — because at least heaven has food.”
Before the war, Gaza received an average of 500 trucks of humanitarian goods daily. Today, that figure has plunged to just 28 trucks per day, according to UN officials — a number deemed gravely insufficient to support the enclave’s civilian population.
The letter comes amid mounting reports of famine-related deaths, children fainting en route to aid stations, and haunting images of skeletal bodies now surfacing from across the strip. Humanitarian groups warn the worst is yet to come.
In parallel, Israeli airstrikes and ground offensives have intensified, particularly in Gaza City and the northern region, where at least 21 Palestinians were killed Wednesday, over half of them women and children, according to Gaza’s health ministry. Israel confirmed it was “deepening” operations in northern Gaza.
UN data reveals that, on average, one Palestinian is killed every 12 minutes, making July one of the deadliest months of the war to date.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres, addressing the UN Security Council, described the deteriorating conditions in Gaza as a “horror show,” and issued his starkest warning yet:
“Malnourishment is soaring, and starvation is knocking on every door in Gaza. We are now witnessing the final gasp of a humanitarian system built on humanitarian principles.”
Adding fuel to the crisis is the controversial aid distribution model centered on the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) — a U.S.- and Israeli-backed organization operating outside the traditional UN-led aid coordination system.
While Israel argues this model ensures aid is kept out of the hands of Hamas, critics — including top UN officials — say it undermines humanitarian neutrality and effectively weaponizes food aid.
The GHF’s delivery points have been described as “deathtraps” by multiple UN sources, due to the frequency of Israeli strikes targeting crowds seeking assistance.
According to Gaza health authorities, more than 1,000 people have been killed by Israeli forces while attempting to access aid since late May. On Sunday alone, at least 73 Palestinians were shot dead while approaching food trucks.
Israeli forces have also reportedly struck World Health Organization (WHO) medical facilities in Deir al-Balah, crippling already strained health services.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday, Israel revoked the visa of the UN’s top humanitarian official in Gaza, prompting a wave of diplomatic rebukes.
