Gaza Strip – July 28, 2025 – 

The humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip continues to spiral, with relentless Israeli airstrikes reportedly causing further casualties despite recent Israeli pledges of “tactical pauses” in fighting to facilitate aid delivery. Simultaneously, a harrowing new dimension of the starvation crisis has emerged, with medical experts warning that prolonged malnutrition has rendered many children unable to properly digest the limited food they receive.

Over the weekend, Israel announced daily “tactical pauses” in military operations across three densely populated areas of Gaza – Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Muwasi – intended to create secure land routes for humanitarian aid convoys. These pauses, from 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM local time, were meant to address mounting international pressure over the dire hunger crisis.

However, reports from medical sources in Gaza indicate that airstrikes have continued to claim lives, even during these purported pauses. Al Jazeera reported today that at least 92 people have been killed across Gaza by Israeli fire, including 41 individuals seeking aid, despite the announced breaks in fighting. This directly contradicts the stated intent of the pauses and highlights the perilous environment for civilians attempting to access desperately needed supplies. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) also reported that between July 9 and July 15, nearly 17% of planned aid movements coordinated with Israeli authorities were denied, and another 33% faced impediments.

The ongoing violence exacerbates an already dire humanitarian situation. The Gaza Ministry of Health has reported that as of July 16, 2025, over 58,573 Palestinians have been killed since October 7, 2023, with children, women, and the elderly accounting for a significant percentage of the identified fatalities. The UN has stated that over 17,000 children have been killed and 33,000 injured across Gaza since the war began, with many struck while attempting to access aid.

Starvation’s Devastating Impact on Children:

Perhaps the most alarming development is the escalating crisis of child starvation. UN officials and aid workers warn that the humanitarian measures currently in place fall far short of what is needed to stem the catastrophic levels of hunger. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) reported that malnutrition in Gaza is spiraling out of control, with a sharp rise in deaths, particularly among children under five. Of the 74 malnutrition-related deaths recorded this year, 63 occurred in July alone, with many dying before reaching medical care.

Medical experts on the ground are now reporting that the prolonged and severe starvation has reached a point where many children’s bodies are unable to properly digest food. Their weakened systems, stripped of essential nutrients for so long, struggle to absorb even small amounts of sustenance, leading to further complications and making recovery incredibly difficult. This grave condition means that even when aid does manage to trickle in, its effectiveness is severely limited for the most vulnerable. UNICEF’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, Edouard Beigbeder, stated on July 24 that “children in the Gaza Strip are starving to death,” noting a staggering 54% increase in reported child deaths from malnutrition in less than three months.

The UN World Food Programme (WFP) welcomed Israel’s announcement of humanitarian pauses but stressed that “hunger has reached catastrophic levels” and that the measures are a mere “drop in the ocean.” Calls continue from international bodies for a sustained and unfettered flow of aid, and ultimately, a permanent ceasefire, to address the profound and worsening humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.