Gaza faces a dire humanitarian crisis, with widespread starvation and death among its 2.1 million residents. A prolonged Israeli blockade, implemented after a Hamas attack, has drastically reduced aid deliveries to a fraction of pre-war levels. The World Health Organization warns of "mass starvation," with thousands killed while seeking aid, and hundreds of thousands of children going hungry. A controversial new aid system, criticized for its limitations and security concerns, has not alleviated the crisis. International condemnation of Israel's actions is mounting, with accusations of using food as a weapon of war and imposing collective punishment.

Prepared by Rachel Morgan and reviewed by editorial team.