UN Warns of Widespread Starvation in Gaza as One-Third Go Days Without Food

Gaza Strip – The United Nations’ World Food Programme (WFP) has issued a dire warning about the deepening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, revealing that nearly one in three residents are enduring multiple days without food. The report highlights a sharp rise in malnutrition, with an estimated 90,000 women and children urgently in need of treatment.

Malnutrition Crisis Escalates

The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, with Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry confirming that nine more people died from malnutrition on Friday, bringing the total death toll from hunger-related causes to 122 since the war began.

While Israel maintains that it is not blocking humanitarian aid, claiming Hamas is to blame for any disruptions, international aid groups and UN officials paint a different picture—one of worsening hunger, lack of medical supplies, and increasingly desperate civilians.

Airdrop Controversy and Limited Access

On Friday, Israeli officials indicated that airdrops of humanitarian aid may be permitted in the coming days. However, aid organizations have long cautioned that such drops are inefficient and unreliable. Although the United Arab Emirates and Jordan were expected to lead the next round of airdrops, a senior Jordanian official told the BBC that no formal approval had been granted by Israel yet.

The UN criticized the airdrop approach as a “distraction from real action” and urged more robust, ground-based aid access instead.

Global Leaders Demand Action

Mounting international pressure is now focused squarely on Israel, with Germany, France, and the UK issuing a joint statement demanding the immediate lifting of restrictions on the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza.

“Withholding essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable,” the statement said.
“Israel must uphold its obligations under international humanitarian law.”

Guterres: ‘Lack of Humanity’

Speaking at the Amnesty International Global Assembly, UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the global response, saying:

“I cannot explain the level of indifference and inaction we see by too many in the international community — the lack of compassion, the lack of truth, the lack of humanity.”

Guterres also revealed that over 1,000 Palestinians have died trying to access food since late May, when the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)—a U.S.- and Israeli-backed group—began supplying aid independently of the traditional UN system.

Allegations of War Crimes at Aid Sites

In a disturbing development, a former U.S. security contractor working with the GHF alleged he witnessed “war crimes” during his deployment in Gaza in May and June 2025.

Anthony Aguilar, a retired soldier, described scenes of indiscriminate violence, including live fire and artillery used against civilians at food distribution points.

“In my entire career, I have never witnessed this level of brutality against a civilian population,” Aguilar stated.

The GHF denied the allegations, calling Aguilar a “disgruntled former contractor terminated for misconduct,” and labeled his claims “categorically false.”