Malnutrition in Gaza on dangerous trajectory, WHO warns as aid airdrops resume

Thomas Mackintosh

Live reporter

Image source, Getty Images

The World Health Organization has warned malnutrition has reached “alarming levels” in Gaza with rates on a “dangerous trajectory” after aid airdrops resumed to the Strip.

Israel announced a series of new aid measures, after more than 100 international aid organisations and human rights groups warned of mass starvation in Gaza earlier this week.

Israel said on Sunday it would halt military operations for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza and allow aid corridors, to “refute the false claim of intentional starvation”.

Jordan, the UAE and Egypt said they delivered aid into Gaza by land and air – with Jordan and the UAE saying it delivered “25 tonnes of food aid and essential humanitarian supplies” by aid airdrops.

People in Gaza have reacted and said, although the aid is welcome, it must be the beginning of a broader, lasting solution to the deepening crisis.

The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry has said at least 133 people have died from malnutrition since the war began.

Aid agencies have also reacted, with Médecins Sans Frontières saying the pause in fighting and aid drop is “not enough”. The UN’s World Food Programme said it welcomes Israel’s pause in military action in some parts of Gaza, but there needs to be a “surge” in aid.

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On Sunday morning, Israel announced it would begin a daily “humanitarian pause” in three densely populated areas of Gaza as it comes under increasing international pressure to alleviate the territory’s worsening starvation crisis.

Other measures also announced include the resumption of airdropped aid, the activation of a desalination plant and the provision of humanitarian corridors to facilitate UN aid deliveries within Gaza.

How bad is Gaza’s starvation crisis?

Last week the territory slipped into a full-blown starvation crisis, with dozens dying from hunger. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), 90,000 women and children are in urgent need of treatment for malnutrition, while one in three people are going without food for days.

Doctors in Gaza have described struggling to keep up with the number of patients coming in seeking treatment for malnourishment, with few tools at their disposal to provide them help.

“Our malnutrition ward in the hospital is extremely overcrowded. Due to the large number of cases, some children are forced to sleep on the floor,” said Dr Ahmad al-Farra, the director of paediatrics at Nasser medical complex.

The hunger crisis has affected virtually everyone in the Gaza Strip, with organisations such as the UN describing their staff as “walking corpses”.

How much aid was getting in before Sunday?

After resuming fighting in mid-March, Israel blocked all aid from entering Gaza for two and a half months, in what it said was an attempt to exert pressure on Hamas to release hostages.

In May, Israel started allowing a trickle of aid in, mostly through the private US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). Israel proposed the GHF as an alternative to the UN-aid system after claiming – without providing evidence – that Hamas was systematically stealing aid from the UN.

More than 1,000 people have been killed while trying to get aid, most of them near GHF food distribution sites. In total, Israel has let in 4,500 UN aid trucks into Gaza since May – an average of about 70 trucks a day. This is a far cry from prewar figures of 500-600 trucks a day, which the UN said is a requisite amount to help restore the health of Gaza’s population.

How will Israel’s announcement change the amount of aid that gets into Gaza?

Israel has announced airdropped aid will resume, which humanitarian organisations have said will provide a negligible amount of supplies. It also said that humanitarian corridors would be established to facilitate the entry of UN aid trucks into Gaza, though the number of trucks that will be allowed in was not specified.

NGOs say these steps may ease aid access, but with mass starvation already under way, far more is needed. In particular, humanitarian groups have called for a full ceasefire in order to get civilians the help they need.

“We have to go back to the levels we had during the ceasefire, 500-600 trucks of aid every day managed by the UN, including Unrwa, that our teams would distribute in 400 distribution points,” said Juliette Touma, the Unrwa director of communications.

She explained that aid agencies had previously walked Gaza back from the brink of starvation and that to do so again, an unimpeded flow of aid would be needed to “reverse the tide and trajectory of famine”.

Unrwa, which Israel banned from operating in Gaza in January, has 6,000 trucks of aid loaded with food, medicine and other hygiene supplies in Jordan and Egypt. The WFP said on Sunday it had enough aid to feed the population of Gaza for three months.

Israel’s latest announcement also is unclear about how long it will maintain the pauses and corridors. Humanitarians have said consistency is key to their work.

It also appears that Israel is relaxing some of its restrictions on the role of the UN in distributing aid in Gaza, but to what extent is unclear. The UN has said that only it is able to distribute aid efficiently within the territory, pointing to the deadly killings around the GHF as an example of why expertise is needed.

What difference will increased aid deliveries mean for Palestinians?

Palestinians are reacting to Israel’s announcement with caution, unwilling to raise their hopes after repeated promises of an imminent ceasefire have fallen through.

People said they saw no immediate difference in the availability of food and of prices – with the exception of flour, the price of which dropped 20% overnight.

It is the first day of Israel’s so-called humanitarian pauses, so it could be a while before increased aid has a noticeable effect on the ground. However, Gaza’s population is running out of time. Each day, more people die from hunger and the number of people suffering from severe malnutrition grows.

Doctors have also warned that alleviating the starvation crisis will not be as easy as flipping a switch. People who are suffering from acute malnutrition need specialised treatment, as they can develop refeeding syndrome if they resume eating normally after a prolonged period of hunger.

“All of these folks who have been deprived for so long, we worry about the complications that they may have developed,” said Dr Thaer Ahmad, a doctor who has worked on medical missions in Gaza.

Israel ‘Succumbed To Global Pressure’, Says Ex-IDF Spokesperson On Gaza Ops Pause | Watch

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Last Updated: July 27, 2025, 23:36 IST

The IDF announced a daily “tactical pause” in parts of Gaza for humanitarian aid amid international pressure. Military operations continue elsewhere.

Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen, in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, Saturday. (AP photo)

After the Israel Defence Force on Sunday announced a “tactical pause” in military operations in some parts of Gaza for humanitarian purposes, former IDF spokesperson Jonathan Conricus believed that this move indicates Israel has succumbed to international pressure.

“It tells us that Israel has succumbed to international pressure”, Sky News quoted Conricus as saying.

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This comes after Israel began a daily “tactical pause” in parts of the territory to allow humanitarian aid to flow more freely, under growing international pressure and rising concerns over famine in Gaza.

‘The IDF say they are going to be pausing military operations in three areas – does that tell us that we are moving in to a new phase’ – @KamaliMelbourne‘It tells us is that Israel have succumbed to international pressure’ – Former IDF spokesperson Jonathan Conricus 📺 Sky… pic.twitter.com/GKgpxSuMok — Sky News (@SkyNews) July 27, 2025

“The pause will begin in the areas where the IDF (Israeli military) is not operating: Al-Mawasi, Deir el-Balah, and Gaza City, every day until further notice,” the IDF said in a statement on Telegram.

The Israeli military said the pause in fighting would take place from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time each day in three densely populated areas. According to the military, the goal is to “increase the scale of humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip.”

Secure land routes are being established for the United Nations and aid groups to deliver food and medical supplies. Israel also said it had carried out airdrops of food aid, including flour, sugar, and canned goods.

Israel strongly refuted claims that it is using starvation as a weapon of war, a charge levelled by some international critics as images of malnourished children in Gaza continue to circulate globally. It said the latest aid steps were made in coordination with the UN and other humanitarian agencies.

The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) has welcomed the pause in military operations, but emphasised that more action is needed to address Gaza’s dire food crisis. With a third of the population going without food for days and approximately 500,000 people facing famine-like conditions, delivery remains a significant challenge despite having enough food stockpiled to support the entire population for nearly three months.

Despite the pause, Israel’s military operations continue in other areas. Palestinian health officials reported at least 27 people killed in separate Israeli strikes around the same time the pause began.

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The conflict began after Hamas launched an attack on southern Israel in October 2023, killing 1,200 people and taking 251 hostages. Israel says it will only agree to a full ceasefire if Hamas surrenders, disarms, and goes into exile, terms the militant group has rejected.

Ceasefire negotiations have hit a roadblock, with both Israel and the US withdrawing their negotiators last week.

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First Published: July 27, 2025, 23:16 IST

News world Israel ‘Succumbed To Global Pressure’, Says Ex-IDF Spokesperson On Gaza Ops Pause | Watch

Israel implemented a “tactical pause” on its military operations in three areas of Gaza, which is ostensibly meant to allow “minimal” humanitarian aid into the enclave. The news comes as some in the international community have accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government of carrying out a campaign of “deliberate mass starvation.”

‘Tactical pause’ to allow ‘minimal’ aid into Gaza

Netanyahu made the announcement in a video address Sunday, July 27, accusing the United Nations of making “excuses” about its inability to deliver aid. “There are secure routes. There have always been, but today it’s official. There will be no more excuses,” Netanyahu said.

The Times of Israel notes that approvals for aid trucks are “hard to obtain,” and that trucks that enter Gaza without approval “come under deadly IDF [Israeli Defense Forces] fire.” Similarly, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reports that between July 16 and July 22, roughly 30% of 75 attempts to coordinate aid distribution with the Israeli government were “fully facilitated.”

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According to the IDF, the “tactical pause” in military operations will be imposed between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., in the heavily populated areas of Muwasi, Deir al-Balah and Gaza City, “every day until further notice.”

The IDF added that “designated secure routes will be in place permanently from 06:00 to 23:00 to enable the safe passage of UN and humanitarian aid organization convoys delivering and distributing food and medicine to the population across Gaza.”

The IDF said its decision was “coordinated with the UN and international organizations following discussions regarding the matter.”

Israel’s plan to allow more aid into the Strip comes as international pressure on the country has grown. In a series of posts on X between Friday, July 25, and Saturday, July 26, UNRWA Commissioner-General Philippe Lazzarini accused Israel of a “manmade hunger” and “deliberate mass starvation.”

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, 48 people have died due to malnutrition in the past three weeks, more than four times the number of people who died due to similar causes throughout the first five months of 2025. Additionally, OCHA reports that 20 children have died from severe acute malnutrition since January 2025 –– 13 of those deaths occurred in July alone.

As Straight Arrow News previously reported, the situation in Gaza has deteriorated to the point that even medical professionals and aid workers are at risk of starvation and death, according to Doctors Without Borders. The organization said Wednesday, July 23, that GHF is actively preventing access to necessary supplies. GHF told Straight Arrow News in an email that the characterization was “ridiculous.”

In an interview with CNN, UNRWA’s acting director, Sam Rose, said, “It is absolutely horrific — even for those whose mission is to serve others. Our staff are collapsing in offices, fainting from hunger and thirst.”

Israel insists reports of starvation by international aid organizations are overblown. On Tuesday, July 22, an anonymous Israeli official told reporters that the government has “not identified starvation at this current point in time.” However, the official went on to acknowledge that “action is required to stabilize the humanitarian situation.”

Airdrops begin over Gaza

In response to the mounting pressure, Israel announced its “tactical pause” on Sunday and allowed the resumption of humanitarian aid airdrops, which also began Sunday.

Speaking to BBC News, Gaza-born journalist Imad Kudaya said most of the aid packages are falling in areas that are under Israeli control. He called attempts to retrieve them “risky.”

“Most of those packages that have dropped from the sky –– they have fallen in demilitarised places where if you go there you will put yourself in a very big risk,” Kudaya said. “Those place are evacuated and under Israeli control –– so it is risky.”

According to the Associated Press, Jordan, in cooperation with the United Arab Emirates, has carried out three airdrops in several locations, totaling some 25 tons of food and supplies.

Similarly, in a statement posted to X, the U.N. World Food Program said it has enough food in, or on its way to, Gaza, to feed its population of more than 2 million people for almost three months.

“Food aid is the only real way for most people inside Gaza to eat. A third of the population is not eating for days. Some 470,000 people are enduring famine-like conditions. 90,000 women and children need urgent nutrition treatment. People are dying due to a lack of humanitarian assistance,” the agency added. “An agreed ceasefire is the only way for humanitarian assistance to reach the entire civilian population in Gaza with critical food supplies in a consistent, predictable, orderly and safe manner — wherever they are across the Gaza Strip.”

Freedom Flotilla Coalition aid ship intercepted

Meanwhile, despite Israel’s assurances that more aid needs to enter Gaza, its military intercepted another humanitarian cargo ship operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition just before midnight Saturday. A previous attempt by the group to deliver aid to Gaza was intercepted in June.

In a post shared by the group on X, video footage shows 21 international activists and journalists who were aboard the ship being detained. The ship was reportedly carrying baby formula, food and medicine.

“The flotilla never entered Israeli territorial waters, nor was it intended to do so; it was headed toward the territorial waters of the State of Palestine, as recognized under international law,” Adalah, a regional human rights group, said in a statement. “Israel has no legal jurisdiction or authority over the international waters in which the vessel was sailing.”

Israel has not commented on the ship’s seizure.

Palestinians struggle to get donated food at a community kitchen, in Gaza City, northern Gaza Strip, Saturday, July 26, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

Israel announced on Sunday that it would enforce a “humanitarian pause” in parts of the Gaza Strip to allow the delivery of desperately needed aid amid rising international pressure over the worsening humanitarian situation. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated that daily pauses, lasting from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., will be implemented in Gaza City, Deir al‑Balah, and Al‑Mawasi, with secure corridors for aid convoys open between 6 a.m. and 11 p.m.

According to Israeli authorities, hundreds of aid trucks have already been allowed into the enclave and are now waiting at designated collection points for distribution by the United Nations (UN). “Israel has done its part by facilitating the entry of large quantities of humanitarian supplies. It is now the UN’s responsibility to collect and distribute this aid without delay or excuses,” the Israeli government said in a statement.

Israel also rejected allegations of deliberately starving Gaza’s population, dismissing what it called “false propaganda” by Hamas. Officials accused the militant group of using images of terminally ill children and presenting them as evidence of starvation. “Israel will not allow Hamas to manipulate humanitarian narratives while it continues to hoard aid and use civilians as shields,” the statement added.

The UN welcomed the humanitarian pause but emphasized that temporary measures cannot replace a sustained and secure aid delivery system. UN Emergency Relief Chief Tom Fletcher said, “We will do everything in our power to deliver food during these pauses, but the needs are overwhelming, and access must be guaranteed beyond limited time windows.” Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA), criticized recent aid airdrops as “expensive, inefficient, and sometimes deadly,” insisting that land-based distribution remains the only viable method for large-scale relief.

The World Food Programme also welcome Israel’s move.

“WFP welcomes the news that Israel is prepared to implement humanitarian pauses, and that designated humanitarian corridors will be created, to facilitate the safe movement of UN convoys delivering emergency food supplies and other aid to people in Gaza. WFP has enough food in or on its way to – the region to feed the entire population of 2.1 million people for almost three months,” it said.

Hamas dismissed the pause as an Israeli attempt to improve its global image rather than address the crisis. Senior Hamas official Mahmoud Merdawi claimed, “These pauses are not humanitarian; they are propaganda while our people starve.” Meanwhile, international pressure on Israel has grown. A joint statement from the foreign ministers of the UK, France, Germany, Japan, and other nations urged Israel to lift all restrictions on aid and ensure safe, consistent humanitarian access. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reiterated Washington’s concern about the humanitarian situation, pressing both Israel and international agencies to ensure that aid “reaches those who need it most.” The World Health Organization (WHO) described the situation as “man-made mass starvation,” warning that child malnutrition in Gaza is approaching catastrophic levels. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated, “This is a crisis caused by human decisions, and it can be stopped.”

Humanitarian organizations, including Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Save the Children, have warned that Gaza’s healthcare system is on the brink of collapse. Severe food shortages, contaminated water, and the rapid spread of disease are creating what experts call an unprecedented humanitarian emergency. Since October 2023, more than 59,000 Palestinians have been killed, and thousands more remain at risk due to restricted aid flows and ongoing military operations.

Humanitarian pauses have been employed in conflicts such as Syria and Yemen, but analysts caution that they rarely alleviate civilian suffering when they are short-term or poorly coordinated. In Gaza, aid convoys entering via Kerem Shalom and Rafah have faced significant challenges due to continued fighting and damaged infrastructure. While Israel insists the pause demonstrates its commitment to humanitarian relief, global observers argue that a sustained ceasefire and unrestricted aid access are essential to prevent further civilian deaths. Calls for both sides to return to negotiations and prioritize civilian safety are growing louder, with the UN urging immediate action alongside a broader political solution.

In a powerful appeal, UNICEF Regional Director Adele Khodr warned, “We are watching an entire generation of children being robbed of their future. Every hour without food, clean water, and safety pushes them closer to irreversible harm. Humanitarian access cannot be treated as a bargaining chip—it is a lifeline.” Aid groups stress that unless the humanitarian pause transitions into a long-term solution, the suffering in Gaza could soon surpass even the worst crises of recent memory.