The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen as Israeli forces reportedly opened fire on Palestinians waiting for food at two distribution points, killing at least one and injuring others. Meanwhile, another baby has died from hunger-related complications, bringing the official number of starvation deaths to 133.
Gaza’s Government Media Office has raised the alarm about a critical shortage of baby formula, warning that more than 40,000 infants under one year old are at risk of dying slowly from malnutrition due to the blockade.
Families say they cannot access the specialized food their babies need, with some already losing children due to hunger. The office blamed Israel for blocking baby formula for over 150 days, demanding that all border crossings be opened immediately to allow in humanitarian aid.
The UN confirmed that Israel has recently allowed around 100 truckloads of aid into Gaza. But according to Tom Fletcher, the UN’s humanitarian chief, this is “just a drop in the ocean” compared to what is truly needed to stop mass starvation.
Security issues, visa delays, and closed crossings are still preventing many aid organizations from delivering food and medical supplies at the scale required.
“There’s massive starvation in Gaza,” said Fletcher. “We welcome the aid—but we’ll judge success by results, not announcements.”
As some food trucks entered northern and southern Gaza, starving residents jumped on them, grabbing whatever supplies they could before the trucks even reached warehouses.
Local reporter Hind Khoudary said, “People are too desperate to wait. Their children haven’t eaten for days.”
While 73 trucks carrying flour, food, and medicine entered Gaza, none of the supplies reached storage centers due to security breakdowns and chaos on the ground, according to the Gaza Media Office.
Since dawn today, Israeli attacks have reportedly killed at least 41 Palestinians, including eight civilians waiting for food, and injured many more. In one case, three people were killed in a residential building bombed in Gaza City.
Sam Rose, acting head of the UN agency UNRWA in Gaza, accused Israel of intentionally creating starvation conditions.
He outlined a three-step pattern, Restrict aid access, Blame aid agencies and Treat humanitarian aid as a threat
“This has clearly been part of a system of manufactured starvation,” Rose said. “We need aid flows to increase, continue, and be paired with an immediate ceasefire.”
In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for an emergency cabinet meeting. He is expected to press US President Donald Trump during their upcoming meeting in Scotland to take a stronger stance on Israel and push for renewed ceasefire talks.
Meanwhile, British media reports suggest that the UK may be moving toward formally recognizing Palestine as a state.
While Gaza suffers, Israeli authorities have approved the expansion of over 3,100 new housing units in the occupied West Bank, especially in Maale Adumim, near East Jerusalem. Palestinian officials warn this will further isolate Palestinian communities and make a two-state solution harder to achieve.
Meanwhile, lawyers have met some of the 21 international activists detained by Israel from the Handala aid flotilla. Israel claims they entered “illegally,” although the activists say they were abducted in international waters.
Gaza is facing a humanitarian catastrophe, with hunger spreading, aid deliveries blocked, and violence escalating. The international community is under growing pressure to act—by enforcing international law, increasing aid, and demanding a lasting ceasefire.
