Several United Nations agencies have raised serious concerns about the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where malnutrition rates are alarmingly high. During the UN Food Systems Summit Stocktake in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the dangers of using hunger as a war tactic, stating, “Hunger fuels instability and undermines peace. We must never accept hunger as a weapon of war.” This statement follows Israel’s decision to allow a temporary increase in humanitarian aid to Gaza amid ongoing violence.
The UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) has reported a troubling rise in malnutrition, indicating that one in five children in Gaza suffers from it. Additionally, over 100 starvation-related deaths have been recorded as of late July 2025. UNRWA officials stress that a significant influx of aid, at least 500 to 600 trucks daily, is crucial to mitigating further starvation and potential disaster. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu contends, “There is no starvation in Gaza, no policy of starvation in Gaza.”
Data from other UN bodies, such as the World Food Programme (WFP), highlights the severity of the crisis. More than 320,000 children under five in Gaza face the risk of acute malnutrition, and nearly 500,000 individuals are experiencing famine-like conditions. The scarcity is so profound that even some UN staff have reportedly collapsed from hunger while carrying out their duties.
This crisis presents significant legal challenges. The use of starvation as a warfare method is forbidden under international legal norms, including the Additional Protocols I and II of the Geneva Conventions, and customary international humanitarian law. These frameworks categorically prohibit targeting civilian populations in a manner that leads to starvation.
In light of these developments, the UN is convening a high-level conference to advocate for a peaceful resolution to the Israel-Palestine conflict through a two-state solution. Notably, France has disclosed plans to recognize Palestinian statehood by September, while the UK has cautioned that continued Israeli actions in Gaza could prompt a similar stance.
This discussion underscores the urgency of addressing these dire humanitarian needs and the broader political issues at play, amid ongoing international discourse surrounding the conflict and potential resolutions.