As Israel’s blockade enters its third month, Gaza faces a catastrophic hunger crisis, with community kitchens shuttered, aid halted, and children suffering from acute malnutrition.
At a Glance
- Nearly all of Gaza’s 170 community kitchens have closed due to the Israeli blockade
- World Central Kitchen ceased operations after exhausting food and fuel
- U.S. plan to deliver aid through private contractors draws UN criticism
- A 25kg bag of flour now costs $415 in Gaza City
- Over 16,000 pregnant and nursing women face acute malnutrition
Kitchens Close, Hunger Deepens
In Gaza, a devastating humanitarian crisis is unfolding as Israel’s total blockade continues to choke off vital supplies. According to Reuters, the majority of Gaza’s 170 community kitchens have now shut down. World Central Kitchen, a key relief provider, suspended all operations after running out of food and cooking fuel.
The closures have eliminated up to 500,000 free meals per day, leaving millions vulnerable. Aid trucks filled with supplies remain immobilized at the border, unable to enter due to Israeli restrictions. As BBC News reports, even minor attempts at restocking have been blocked, plunging Gaza into what aid agencies warn could become a famine.
Watch a report: Malnutrition rises in Gaza as Israeli blockade enters third month.
U.S. Aid Plan Meets Resistance
To address the crisis, the U.S. has backed a plan to deploy private contractors to distribute aid in Gaza through secure “distribution centers.” As described by LifeSite News, Israel would provide security perimeters but not participate in the delivery or intake of supplies.
U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee emphasized that “[Israelis] will not be involved in the distribution of the food, or even the bringing of food into Gaza,” but would ensure site protection. Despite these assurances, UN agencies have warned the plan could effectively “weaponize” aid, sidelining established humanitarian channels and endangering neutral relief efforts.
A Crisis for Children and Families
The blockade’s human toll is most visible among Gaza’s children. Severe malnutrition is now widespread, with thousands of children—and over 16,000 pregnant and nursing women—suffering from acute hunger, according to UN briefings. The cost of food has skyrocketed; BBC reports that a 25kg bag of flour now sells for $415 in Gaza City—far beyond the reach of average families.
One harrowing case is that of six-month-old Siwar Ashour, who suffers from a congenital esophagus condition and lacks access to vital formula. Her story has come to symbolize the broader crisis, as hospitals and families alike run out of resources to feed and treat the most vulnerable.
Global Pressure Mounts
Condemnation has echoed from around the world. Ireland’s Taoiseach Micheál Martin called the blockade a “war crime,” urging immediate and unobstructed humanitarian access. Both the UN and the UK have issued statements pressing for the creation of humanitarian corridors, insisting that no military context justifies mass civilian starvation.
With Gaza’s kitchens cold, its trucks stalled, and its people starving, the urgency of coordinated global action has never been clearer. Whether through renewed diplomatic channels or emergency intervention, the next steps will determine whether Gaza’s descent into famine can be stopped.
