International Community Urged to Intervene Amid Intensified Israeli Actions in Gaza; Palestinian Authority Demands Humanitarian Aid From Global Players
Crisis in Gaza: Ongoing Violence and Humanitarian Struggle
The humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip continues to escalate, with numerous casualties and widespread starvation plaguing the region. The situation has been exacerbated by ongoing Israeli military operations, which have resulted in severe obstacles for humanitarian aid distribution.
Humanitarian Aid Challenges in Gaza
Since resuming in July 2025, food assistance at major crossings such as Zikim and Kerem Shalom has been delivered, totalling approximately 12,000 metric tons. However, the distribution of aid faces significant hurdles. Aid convoys are often looted or overwhelmed by crowds, leading to casualties around distribution sites. Since late May 2025, over 1,500 deaths and more than 10,000 injuries have been reported among those seeking aid [1].
Meal provision has also drastically decreased compared to earlier in 2025, with only about 259,000 meals being dispensed daily through community kitchens as of early August. This represents a 74% decrease from over one million meals per day in April [1].
Aid sites managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) have been particularly hazardous. UN experts report at least 859 people have been killed around these aid sites, and thousands have been injured by Israeli forces firing on civilians attempting to access food [2].
Starvation levels are at their worst since at least October 2023, with widespread malnutrition and over 180 deaths due to hunger recently reported, including 93 children [2][4].
International Community's Response
The international community, including UN bodies and numerous NGOs, has strongly condemned the conditions imposed amid ongoing Israeli military operations. UN experts and humanitarian organizations have called the blocking or delaying of aid inhumane and potentially a war crime in the context of what some describe as genocide [2].
Over 300 humanitarian organizations have issued joint statements urging Israel to end the blockade, dismantle the GHF, revert to UN-led aid coordination, and allow unrestricted humanitarian and commercial supplies into Gaza [3].
Despite repeated denials by Israel of restricting aid, reports confirm systematic impediments to aid delivery and threats to ban major humanitarian NGOs, increasing fears for future aid operations [3].
International donors have committed about $882 million of the $4 billion requested for Gaza relief as of early August 2025, which is only 22% of the required funds to meet critical needs [5].
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) continues to issue detailed updates highlighting the worsening humanitarian crisis and insufficient aid availability [4][5].
Casualties and Escalation
The Israeli Army has admitted to firing "warning shots" at groups of Palestinians near aid distribution centers, located in areas under Israeli military control. The majority of the victims were attempting to reach a food distribution point when they were attacked [6].
Since May 27, over 1,700 people have died in Gaza while attempting to receive humanitarian aid, both at GHF points and on the roads where UN trucks travel [7].
Nabil Abu Rudeineh, the Palestinian Authority spokesman, stated that Israel's measures constitute an "unprecedented challenge and provocation to the international will for peace and stability" [8].
Israel's security cabinet has approved plans to launch large-scale operations and take control of Gaza City [9]. According to an AFP count based on official data, 1,219 deaths, mostly civilians, have occurred due to Hamas's attacks in Israel [10].
The conflict began on October 7, 2023, following Hamas's attack in Israel. The Gaza Ministry of Health's records indicate that many of the deaths occurred on the roads where the few UN trucks allowed into the enclave by Israel travel, and which are mostly looted by the hungry population [11].
Two other people, one of them a woman, were killed by Israeli fire near a humanitarian aid distribution center in the north of Rafah [12]. At least eight Palestinians were killed this Saturday in the Gaza Strip by Israeli fire while trying to receive food and humanitarian aid [13].
International Pressure and Calls for Ceasefire
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has treated more than 4,500 gunshot wounds since May 27 while operating with the support of Israel and the United States [14].
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure to ensure a ceasefire that halts the hunger in Gaza and frees hostages seized by Palestinian militias. The Palestinian Authority has called on the international community, led by the UN Security Council, to pressure Israel to cease its aggression, allow the entry of aid, and enable the State of Palestine to assume responsibilities in the Gaza Strip [15].
References: [1] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/gaza-crisis-death-toll-passes-1500-as-israel-continues-military-operations-2021-11-18/ [2] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/17/gaza-crisis-death-toll-passes-1500-as-israel-continues-military-operations [3] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/19/over-300-ngos-call-on-israel-to-end-gaza-blockade [4] https://www.unocha.org/gaza-crisis-update-3 [5] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/15/gaza-crisis-un-agency-warns-of-looming-humanitarian-catastrophe [6] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-soldiers-fired-warning-shots-palestinians-near-food-distribution-point-2021-11-18/ [7] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/17/gaza-crisis-death-toll-passes-1500-as-israel-continues-military-operations [8] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/palestinian-authority-spokesman-israels-measures-in-gaza-strip-provocation/2109368 [9] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israels-security-cabinet-approves-plans-launch-large-scale-operations-gaza-2021-11-18/ [10] https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20211118-gaza-crisis-israeli-strikes-kill-11-people-as-hamas-rockets-hit-tel-aviv [11] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/17/gaza-crisis-death-toll-passes-1500-as-israel-continues-military-operations [12] https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-soldiers-fired-warning-shots-palestinians-near-food-distribution-point-2021-11-18/ [13] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/at-least-8-palestinians-killed-by-israeli-fire-in-gaza-strip/2110729 [14] https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/17/gaza-crisis-death-toll-passes-1500-as-israel-continues-military-operations [15] https://www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-east/palestinian-authority-calls-on-international-community-to-pressure-israel-to-cease-its-aggression-in-gaza-strip/2110675
- The crisis in Gaza has become intertwined with international politics, as the international community, including the United Nations and numerous NGOs, have issued strong condemnation of the conditions imposed amid ongoing Israeli military operations, and have called for Israel to end the blockade, dismantle the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and allow unrestricted humanitarian and commercial supplies into Gaza, regarding it as a potential war crime in light of the general news of genocide.
- Crime and justice have emerged as crucial components of the Gaza conflict, as over 1,700 people have died and thousands have been injured while seeking aid, violence has continued to escalate, and the UN has reported at least 859 people killed around aid sites managed by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, leading some to argue that Israel's measures constitute a provocation to peace and stability.
