'Starving Gaza': Over 100 Dead from Hunger as Aid Groups Warn of Mass Famine and Israel Deflects Blame

Gaza Strip - In the past 24 hours alone, at least 10 more Palestinians have died from starvation in Gaza, bringing the total death toll due to hunger to 111 people, including more than 80 children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry.

These heartbreaking numbers are rising daily as international aid groups, human rights organizations, and governments raise urgent alarms over what they describe as a man-made famine being deliberately imposed by Israel's ongoing blockade and bombardment.

More than 109 humanitarian organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), Save the Children, and Oxfam, have united in a joint statement condemning the humanitarian catastrophe as "unforgivable" and demanding immediate action to stop the suffering of over 2 million people in Gaza.

"Children are telling their parents they want to go to heaven, because at least heaven has food," one aid worker said, revealing the scale of despair among Gaza's youth.

UNRWA: "The World is Watching a Crime Unfold"

Sam Rose, the acting director of UNRWA affairs in Gaza, spoke to Al Jazeera, describing the situation as "unacceptable and unforgivable":

"We have staff fainting from hunger. Their children are starving. People are collapsing in the streets. What they are being asked to endure is beyond what any human should face."

UNRWA and other UN agencies say Israel's tight control over aid entry has made it nearly impossible to deliver sufficient food, medicine, or fuel. Despite widespread international condemnation, Israel continues its military offensive, with no end in sight.

A War on Food: Aid Workers Shot, Civilians Killed

Since May 27, over 1,050 Palestinians seeking food have been killed by Israeli forces, according to the UN. This includes 766 deaths near aid sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)-a controversial mechanism backed by Israel and the US-and another 288 near UN aid convoys.

"Doctors are seeing record rates of acute malnutrition. Markets are empty. Waste is piling up. Adults are collapsing in the streets from hunger and dehydration," the joint NGO statement warned.

The GHF, heavily criticized by aid organizations, has become a flashpoint for violence. Israeli military zones surround its sites, and US security contractors reportedly use tear gas and pepper spray on starving civilians. One former GHF security guard told Israeli media he witnessed disturbing abuses against desperate aid seekers.

Israel Denies Responsibility, Blames Hamas

Despite mounting evidence, Israeli officials continue to reject accusations of famine, claiming aid is being delivered and blaming Hamas for shortages.

"There is no famine caused by Israel," Israeli spokesperson David Mencer said. "There is a man-made shortage engineered by Hamas."

These remarks come as global outrage grows. Critics argue that Israel's blockade and targeting of aid convoys are central causes of the unfolding famine.

Global Reactions: Governments and Civil Society Speak Out

From Ramallah to Baghdad, people are rallying in solidarity with Gaza. In Iraq, the government condemned Israel's actions as part of a "systematic and inhumane policy of starvation." In Brazil, officials announced they are formally joining South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

"There is no longer room for moral ambiguity or political omission," Brazil's foreign ministry stated. "The international community cannot remain inactive in the face of ongoing atrocities."

Meanwhile, in the United States, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is calling on Congress to end military aid to Israel, stating:

"Every U.S. dollar sent to Israel tightens the noose around Gaza's neck."

A Nation Wasting Away

Hospitals across Gaza are overwhelmed with malnourished children and elderly people, many of whom are arriving too late for treatment. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that over 100,000 women and children are suffering from severe acute malnutrition and need urgent intervention.

Dr. Ahmad al-Farra, head of pediatrics at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, said:

"We were afraid we'd reach this point-and now we have. Some children are dying before we can even help them."

What Happens Next?

Despite the staggering number of deaths, the Israeli offensive continues. The siege remains in place. And the children of Gaza continue to die of hunger while the world debates terms, policies, and politics.

As aid workers and civilians stand in the same food lines-hungry, shot at, and silenced-a moral line is being crossed. One that may forever define the legacy of this war.