Gaza Faces Dire Humanitarian Crisis: 101 Palestinians, Including 80 Children, Die from Malnutrition

In Gaza, a severe food crisis compounded by relentless Israeli attacks has pushed the region to the brink of catastrophe. The Gaza Health Ministry reported on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, that 101 Palestinians, including 80 children, have died due to malnutrition amid the ongoing 21-month conflict. Among them, 33 deaths, including 12 children, were recorded in the past 24 hours alone.

At Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital, 14-year-old Mosab al-Debs is among the thousands suffering from acute malnutrition. Dr. Mohammad Abu Salmiya, the hospital’s director, stated that approximately 900,000 people in Gaza are grappling with hunger, including 70,000 children afflicted by malnutrition.

The situation has deteriorated to the point of desperation, with residents scrambling for scarce food supplies. Limited UN aid is permitted to enter, but looting and violence plague distribution efforts. Controversial aid centers, operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) and supported by the United States and Israel, have become deadly traps. Since May 7, over 1,000 Palestinians have been killed near these centers, with many shot indiscriminately by Israeli snipers, according to Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA). Lazzarini described these centers as “death traps,” accusing Israeli forces of targeting civilians seeking aid.

The crisis extends beyond Gaza’s residents. UNRWA workers and medical staff are also succumbing to starvation and exhaustion, with many losing consciousness during their duties, Lazzarini reported. The dire conditions have raised alarms for journalists stationed in Gaza, with Agence France-Presse (AFP) warning that its reporters risk death from hunger if urgent action is not taken.

Amid the crisis, Israeli forces continue airstrikes and ground operations. On Tuesday, at least 51 Palestinians were killed, including 14 attempting to collect aid. Since October 7, 2023, the Gaza Health Ministry reports over 59,000 deaths due to Israeli attacks.

In response, 28 countries—including the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Canada—along with the European Union issued a joint statement on Monday, calling for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian aid. They warned that Gaza’s humanitarian suffering has reached “a new depth.” Israel dismissed the statement as “disconnected from reality.”

As the conflict persists, Gaza’s residents, aid workers, and journalists face an escalating catastrophe, with no immediate resolution in sight.