A military official closely associated with Trump shares plan for fresh Gaza support following an on-site inspection of aid dispersal center
The humanitarian situation in Gaza remains dire, with widespread famine-like conditions and acute malnutrition affecting over half the population. According to the United Nations (UN) and humanitarian organizations, Gaza faces catastrophic food insecurity, with the worst-case famine scenario unfolding as hundreds of thousands suffer from severe undernutrition and starvation-related deaths have increased sharply in recent months.
Despite efforts by aid groups like the World Food Programme (WFP) and the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), food access is extremely limited. The GHF has delivered over 100 million meals since it began operations in May, but its capacity—around 60 trucks of food per day—is far below the previous UN-led scale of 600 trucks daily during ceasefire periods. This shortfall is compounded by ongoing violence, including Israeli military actions that have resulted in the deaths of more than 1,000 Palestinians while seeking aid in the territory, most near the GHF sites.
Human Rights Watch has criticized the Israeli-backed aid system, stating that it is nearly impossible for Palestinians to safely receive aid due to ongoing military operations. The Israeli military has been accused of controlling the movements of Palestinians seeking aid and opening fire towards them, a claim that the military denies.
In response to criticism, the Israeli military announced intentions in late July 2025 to resume airdrops, open certain secure routes for aid entry, and implement humanitarian pauses to facilitate deliveries. However, severe blockage and delays continue to critically impede large-scale food and health aid, directly contributing to the spike in malnutrition deaths.
Regarding the role of contractors, there are mentions of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) delivering food aid but no explicit, credible evidence from these sources linking Israeli-backed American contractors specifically to the delivery of humanitarian aid amidst the conflict and controversies. The humanitarian aid mechanisms appear primarily coordinated by international organizations such as the UN’s WFP and local partners rather than security-linked contractors.
The Gaza Strip, a territory of about 2 million Palestinians, has been affected by violence and controversy due to Israel's military offensive against Hamas. Thousands of Palestinians reportedly gather near aid distribution sites at night before they open, and a frenzied fee-for-all ensues once inside, with weaker and more vulnerable people coming away with nothing. Officials at Nasser Hospital in southern Gaza reported receiving the bodies of 13 people who were killed while trying to get aid, including near the site that U.S. officials visited. However, GHF denied any casualties at their sites on Friday.
International experts have warned of a "worst-case scenario of famine" in Gaza. The U.S. President Donald Trump's Mideast envoy, Steve Witkoff, visited a food distribution site in the Gaza Strip to gain a clear understanding of the humanitarian situation and help craft a plan to deliver food and medical aid. Germany's foreign minister, on the other hand, has condemned settler violence in the West Bank and called on Hamas to lay down its arms and release hostages. However, Germany has not announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state, unlike other major Western countries.
The situation in Gaza remains complex and fraught with challenges. The international community must continue to work towards finding solutions to alleviate the suffering of the Palestinians and ensure the safe and efficient delivery of aid.
[1] Human Rights Watch. (2025). Israel/Gaza: Aid Nearly Impossible for Palestinians to Safely Receive. [online] Available at: https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/07/30/israelgaza-aid-nearly-impossible-palestinians-safely-receive
[2] UN OCHA. (2025). Gaza Crisis: Humanitarian Snapshot. [online] Available at: https://ochaopt.org/content/gaza-crisis-humanitarian-snapshot
[3] World Food Programme. (2025). Gaza Crisis: WFP Scales Up Operations to Reach More People in Need. [online] Available at: https://www.wfp.org/news/gaza-crisis-wfp-scales-up-operations-reach-more-people-need
[4] Al Jazeera. (2025). Gaza: Malnutrition Deaths Increase Amidst Israeli Blockade. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/8/1/gaza-malnutrition-deaths-increase-amidst-israeli-blockade
- The dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, marked by widespread malnutrition and food insecurity, is not only a health concern but also has roots in politics and war-and-conflicts, as the international community grapples with delivering aid efficiently, given the ongoing violence and disputes.
- General news and humanitarian reports reveal that the Israeli military's actions, such as limiting access for Palestinians seeking aid and controlling movements, are intensifying the crisis in Gaza, exacerbating issues like malnutrition and food insecurity.
