Israeli Attacks Kill 51 in Gaza as Starvation Crisis Deepens

Gaza, August 23, 2025 – At least 51 Palestinians, including 16 seeking humanitarian aid, were killed in Israeli military strikes across Gaza, medical sources reported to Al Jazeera. The attacks come as health authorities confirmed eight additional deaths from malnutrition, including two children, amid a worsening hunger crisis in the besieged territory.

Israeli artillery targeted tents housing displaced families in the Asdaa area northwest of Khan Younis in southern Gaza, killing 16 people, including six children, on Saturday, according to medical officials. In central Gaza, a drone strike on a house in the Maghazi refugee camp claimed two lives. Additionally, two civilians were shot dead by Israeli forces near aid distribution points—one near the “Morag axis” southeast of Khan Younis and another near the Israeli-controlled Netzarim Corridor.

**Famine Declared in Gaza** Gaza’s Health Ministry reported that eight more Palestinians died from malnutrition in the past 24 hours, bringing the total starvation-related death toll to 281, including 114 children. Munir al-Bursh, the ministry’s director-general, described the famine as “silently ravaging” civilians, stripping children of their right to life and turning hospitals and tents into scenes of daily tragedy. On Friday, the United Nations officially declared a famine in Gaza, marking the first such declaration in the Middle East. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system reported that 514,000 people—nearly a quarter of Gaza’s population—are currently facing famine conditions, with projections estimating this number could rise to 641,000 by September’s end. The UN has accused Israel of systematically obstructing aid deliveries, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling the crisis a “man-made disaster.” **‘Engineering of Starvation’** Gaza’s Health Ministry welcomed the UN’s famine declaration but criticized its timing, arguing it came too late. In a statement, the ministry described the starvation crisis as part of a broader “genocide,” alongside the systematic destruction of the health sector, mass killings, and policies targeting entire generations. Since May 27, Israel has implemented a unilateral aid delivery system through the “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation,” supported by Israel and the United States but rejected by the UN and major relief organizations. According to the Health Ministry, over 2,076 Palestinians have been killed and 15,300 injured while seeking aid since the system’s introduction. **Ongoing Conflict** The latest violence follows Israel’s military response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel in October 2023. Since then, Israeli operations in Gaza have resulted in over 62,600 Palestinian deaths, according to local health authorities.

Reporting from Deir el-Balah, Al Jazeera’s Hind Khoudary noted that Palestinians have been witnessing the starvation crisis for weeks, with many more at risk of malnutrition. The UN’s famine declaration has underscored the dire humanitarian situation, with experts warning that 500,000 people are facing “catastrophic” hunger levels.