In a report published by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) Alert, it warns that Gaza has reached phase two out of three in the famine threshold. The IPC is a global partnership between 21 organizations and intergovernmental institutions that all work to find and help those suffering from famine and hunger.
In Gaza, one in three Palestinians have now gone without food for multiple days at a time.
Secretary General Antonio Guterres of the United Nations responded to the IPC’s alert on Gaza, deeming that what they have “feared” has come true.
“Palestinians in Gaza are enduring a humanitarian crisis of epic proportions. This is not a warning. It is a reality unfolding before our eyes,” Guterres said.
Guterres is now urging for more aid into the warzone and for Israel and Hamas to do their part to ensure that the Palestinians get the help they need.
While conflict between Israel and Palestinian territories has been occurring for decades, Hamas-led armed groups launched an attack on Oct. 7, 2023, in southern Israel, resulting in hostages currently being withheld and almost two years of ongoing conflict.
“This nightmare must end. Ending this worst-case scenario will take the best efforts of all parties — now. We need an immediate and permanent humanitarian ceasefire; the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages; and full, unfettered humanitarian access across Gaza. This is a test of our shared humanity — a test we cannot afford to fail,” Guterres said.
Aid has currently been very difficult to get into the Gaza strip due to heavy restrictions imposed by Israel.
On June 9, activist Greta Thunberg and 11 other passengers on the Madleen attempted to sail across the Mediterranean to Gaza in hopes of delivering aid. However, their boat was intercepted by the Israeli military and Thunberg was detained and deported.
Thunberg spoke to reporters regarding the issue, calling the Israeli military’s seizing of the ship an “illegal act.”
“But that is not the real story here, the real story is that there is a genocide going on in Gaza, and a systematic starvation following the siege and blockade now, which is leading to food, medicine, and water — that are desperately needed to get into Gaza — is prevented from doing so,” Thunberg said.
In a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO,) 74 malnutrition-related deaths have been recorded so far in 2025, with 63 being from July. In addition, one in five children are now suffering from acute malnourishment, resulting in biochemical changes to the metabolic, hormonal and glucoregulatory systems in the body.
WHO says that the current crisis occurring in Gaza remains “entirely preventable,” but the blocking of aid “has cost many lives.”
“WHO calls for urgent, sustained efforts to flood the Gaza Strip with diverse, nutritious food, and to expedite the delivery of therapeutic supplies for children and vulnerable groups, as well as essential medicine and supplies,” the organization said in a statement. “This flow must remain consistent and unhindered to support recovery and prevent further deterioration.”
On July 21, WHO staff and family members stationed in Deir al Balah, Gaza were attacked three separate times in airstrikes by Israel.
The Israeli military entered the building where the organization was holding aid for the Palestinians. They then forced women and children to evacuate towards Al-Mawasi, while male staff members were handcuffed, stripped and interrogated at gunpoint by the military. Two staff members and two family members were then detained, with all but one being released from detention.
“WHO calls for the immediate release of the WHO staff member detained today, and the protection of all of our staff and premises. We reiterate our call for the active protection of civilians, health care and health-care premises and for rapid and unimpeded flow of aid, including food, fuel and health supplies, at scale into and across Gaza. WHO also calls for the unconditional release of hostages,” WHO said in a statement.
While their operation inside Deir al Balah was deemed “compromised,” they are continuing their efforts in Gaza to deliver aid to those in need.
On July 28, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed that there is no current food insecurity occurring in Gaza.
“There is no policy of starvation in Gaza, and there is no starvation in Gaza. We enable humanitarian aid throughout the duration of the war to enter Gaza — otherwise, there would be no Gazans,” Netanyahu said.
Over 70% of Gaza’s infrastructure has been destroyed from the war, leading to the only safe areas being reduced to less than 12%. 90% of Gazans have been displaced, with more than 55,000 Palestinians dying from the conflict.
The United Nations (UN) has urgently warned of the projection of “catastrophic” levels of food insecurity expected to hit the entire population by September. At least half of the 2.1 million people in Gaza are expected to hit the final phase of the IPC Food Insecurity Scale. The final phase is marked by starvation until death.
