Almost one-third of the population in Gaza is reportedly going days without food, according to a warning from the United Nations’ food aid program. The World Food Programme (WFP) has stated that malnutrition rates are soaring, with around 90,000 women and children urgently requiring medical treatment.
The situation has escalated significantly, with reports indicating that nine additional individuals died from malnutrition on Friday alone, raising the total number of malnutrition-related deaths to 122 since the onset of the recent conflict.
Israeli authorities maintain that there are no restrictions on the flow of humanitarian aid into Gaza and attribute the ongoing malnutrition to Hamas. An Israeli security official mentioned the possibility of conducting airdrops of aid in the coming days, although aid organizations have previously criticized this method as inefficient for meeting the needs of Gaza’s population.
International calls for immediate humanitarian aid
Local media outlets reported that the United Arab Emirates and Jordan are planning to undertake the latest aid drops; however, a senior Jordanian official indicated that their military is still awaiting approval from Israel to proceed. The UN has referred to this plan as a “distraction to inaction” on the part of the Israeli government amidst escalating international concern regarding the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
On Friday, Germany, France, and the UK issued a joint statement urging Israel to “immediately lift restrictions on the flow of aid” into the territory, calling for an end to the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe and for Israel to adhere to international humanitarian law. The statement emphasized that “withholding essential humanitarian assistance to the civilian population is unacceptable.”
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres criticized the international community for its lack of action regarding the suffering of Palestinians, expressing his bewilderment at the apparent indifference. He cited UN records indicating that over 1,000 Palestinians have perished while trying to secure food since May 27, coinciding with the start of the US and Israeli-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation’s supply distributions as an alternative to UN-led efforts.
“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.”
Allegations of wartime atrocities and ongoing negotiations
A U.S. security contractor who worked with the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation during May and June 2025 claimed to have witnessed grave abuses during his time in the region. He alleged that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and U.S. contractors employed excessive force against civilians at food distribution sites, asserting, “In my entire career, I have never witnessed the level of brutality and use of indiscriminate and unnecessary force against a civilian population until I was in Gaza at the hands of the IDF and U.S. contractors.”
In response, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation dismissed these allegations as the unfounded claims of a former contractor who had been dismissed for misconduct.
Meanwhile, the future of negotiations for a ceasefire and a hostages release agreement remains unclear, following the withdrawal of U.S. and Israeli negotiating teams from talks in Qatar. U.S. President Donald Trump remarked that Hamas “didn’t really want to make a deal,” suggesting that their intent is more destructive. However, a senior Hamas official expressed surprise at Trump’s comments and indicated that they have been informed negotiations have not broken down, with the Israeli delegation expected to return to Doha next week.
Since the escalation of conflict following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages taken, more than 59,000 fatalities have been reported in Gaza according to the Hamas-run health ministry. Israel implemented a total blockade of aid deliveries in early March and resumed military operations against Hamas shortly thereafter, leading to a collapse of the two-month ceasefire. Despite a partial easing of the blockade after nearly two months due to fears of famine, shortages of food, medicine, and fuel have continued to worsen. The majority of Gaza’s population has been displaced multiple times, with over 90% of homes reportedly damaged or destroyed.