Nepal UK
Picture: Reuters
GAZA STRIP – A recent and alarming report from the UN's World Food Programme (WFP) reveals that nearly one in three people in the Gaza Strip are now enduring days without any food. International concerns are rapidly growing that widespread hunger has taken hold across the territory.
The WFP has stated that a staggering 90,000 women and children urgently require medical treatment for severe malnutrition. This grim situation is leading to a rising death toll.
The health ministry in the Hamas-controlled Palestinian territory reported on Friday that nine more people had died from lack of food, pushing the total number of such deaths since the conflict began to 122.
Global leaders are increasingly vocal about the crisis. On Friday, Germany, France, and the UK collectively urged Israel to immediately remove all restrictions on aid entering Gaza.
In a joint statement, they called for an immediate end to the severe human crisis and the conflict. They stressed that Israel must uphold its duties under international humanitarian law, adding that stopping essential aid from reaching civilians is unacceptable.
The UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, expressed profound dismay at what he described as a lack of global indifference and inaction. He highlighted a distressing absence of compassion and humanity in the face of the widespread suffering.
He also noted reports that over 1,000 Palestinians have died while trying to get food since late May. This happened as a US and Israeli-backed organisation began distributing supplies, operating as an alternative to the usual UN-led system.
Furthermore, a US security worker, who was in Gaza in May and June 2025, claimed to have witnessed "war crimes." He alleged that Israeli forces and US contractors used live gunfire and other heavy weapons against civilians at food distribution sites. The organisation he worked for, however, has strongly denied these accusations.
Meanwhile, the UK Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, indicated that Britain would assist in dropping aid into Gaza from the air. This suggestion followed an Israeli security official's hint that such airdrops might soon be allowed.
Aid organisations have previously cautioned that airdrops are generally an inefficient way to deliver large amounts of supplies. Sir Keir wrote in a newspaper that while the news of permission for airdrops was very late, the UK would use this method to help.
He also confirmed that the UK is urgently working to evacuate children needing critical medical treatment to Britain. However, the UN views the move towards airdrops as a mere "distraction" from the need for meaningful action by the Israeli government.
Separately, talks aimed at a new ceasefire and the release of hostages remain uncertain. Negotiating teams from the US and Israel have withdrawn from discussions in Qatar.
President Donald Trump commented that Hamas did not seem truly interested in a deal. Hamas, in turn, expressed surprise at the US remarks and stated that mediators had informed them that negotiations had not collapsed, and they expect the Israeli team to return next week.
The current conflict began after Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel in October 2023, which resulted in about 1,200 deaths and 251 people being taken hostage. Since then, the health ministry in Gaza reports that over 59,000 people have died in the territory.
Although Israel later partially eased a complete blockade on aid deliveries imposed in March, shortages of food, medicine, and fuel have continued to worsen. Most of Gaza’s population has been displaced many times, and it is estimated that over 90% of homes are either damaged or destroyed.
In related diplomatic news, France announced on Thursday its plan to formally recognise a Palestinian state in September. This decision has caused anger in both Israel and its main ally, the US.
A day later, a significant number of British Members of Parliament signed a letter encouraging Sir Keir to follow France’s lead. However, the Prime Minister indicated that any such recognition from the UK would not be immediate. He suggested it must be part of a broader plan to achieve a lasting two-state solution, where both a Palestinian state and Israel can exist safely side-by-side.
In Gaza, every moment without action deepens a humanitarian catastrophe that demands the world's urgent attention.
