On August 17, 2025, Israel escalated its military operations in Gaza City, targeting densely populated neighborhoods such as Zeitoun, Sabra, Remal, and Tuffah, according to Al Jazeera. The intensified bombardment has forced tens of thousands of Palestinians, already facing starvation, to flee their homes in what the United Nations warns could exacerbate a man-made famine in the region.

An Israeli drone strike on al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza City killed at least seven people on Sunday, with grieving families seen removing bodies from the hospital morgue for burial. The strikes are part of Israel's broader plan to seize Gaza City, the last major population center in the enclave, and forcibly displace residents to southern Gaza. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs condemned the plan, stating it would deepen the suffering of Palestinians, 90% of whom—approximately 2.4 million people—remain displaced after 22 months of conflict.

The Gaza Ministry of Health reported that seven more Palestinians died of starvation in the past 24 hours, bringing the hunger-related death toll to 258, including 110 children. The ministry accused Israel of enforcing a "systematic policy of engineered starvation" by blocking essential goods like baby formula, meat, and dairy. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) echoed these concerns, warning of a "man-made famine" and criticizing Israel and the US for promoting an alternative aid system that fosters "dehumanization, chaos, and death." The World Food Programme noted that current food supplies meet only 47% of Gaza’s needs, with 500,000 people on the brink of famine.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, claimed displaced Palestinians would be moved to "safe zones" in the south, though these areas have also faced repeated bombings. Hamas condemned the plan as a "new wave of genocide and displacement," accusing Israel of using tent provisions as a pretext for ethnic cleansing. Al Jazeera’s correspondent Hind Khoudary, reporting from Deir el-Balah, described relentless artillery fire and air raids forcing residents to flee, leaving behind devastated homes and meager possessions.

Local residents, like Zeinab Nabahan from Jabalia refugee camp, told Al Jazeera they rely on charity kitchens for survival, often waiting hours for small portions of lentils or rice. Another resident, Tayseer Naim, described the daily struggle to secure food, walking long distances under dire conditions. Amjad Shawa, director of the Palestinian NGOs Network in Gaza City, said aid workers are overwhelmed as Israel targets aid facilities and restricts supplies, causing the humanitarian system to collapse.

The international community has voiced alarm, with a UN official urging a return to a UN-led aid distribution system. Meanwhile, protests in New York and Israel have called for an end to the war and the release of hostages, while concerns grow over the targeting of journalists and the blocking of medical visas for Gaza’s children. The conflict, which has killed nearly 62,000 Palestinians since October 2023, continues to draw accusations of genocide from multiple rights organizations.