Israeli forces have killed at least 25 Palestinians across Gaza since dawn Saturday, including 13 civilians seeking aid. This sharp escalation comes amid an intensifying Gaza starvation crisis, which has now claimed 122 lives—83 of them children—due to severe food shortages caused by Israel’s blockade and military operations.
Rising Civilian Death Toll
Health officials in Gaza reported that two infants died of malnutrition on Saturday, highlighting the worsening humanitarian situation. Meanwhile, 13 civilians looking for food aid were shot dead, bringing the number of starvation-related deaths in recent weeks to alarming levels.
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) condemned the deteriorating conditions. “The scale of human suffering and the stripping of human dignity have long exceeded every acceptable standard—both legal and moral,” said ICRC President Mirjana Spoljaric. She noted that many of their 350 staff members in Gaza are also struggling to find food and clean water.
Ceasefire Hopes Collapse
Efforts to reach a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas collapsed this week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared that Hamas had no interest in peace, while former U.S. President Donald Trump echoed the sentiment, saying Hamas leaders would now be “hunted down.”
Netanyahu stated that Israel was exploring “alternative options” to retrieve hostages and dismantle Hamas. The stalled negotiations, once focused on a 60-day truce to allow humanitarian aid and prisoner exchanges, are now off the table. Both Israel and the U.S. withdrew their delegations from the talks in Qatar shortly after Hamas responded to the latest proposal.
Right-wing Israeli leaders welcomed the move. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir urged a total conquest of Gaza, calling for an end to all aid and encouraging emigration from the strip.
Read: 122 Dead from Starvation in Gaza as Israeli Blockade Prevents Aid, Says Health Ministry
Aid Drops vs. Aid Access
The Israeli military recently allowed limited international airdrops of aid. However, Hamas dismissed the move as performative. “The Gaza Strip doesn’t need flying aerobatics. It needs an open humanitarian corridor and a steady daily flow of aid trucks,” said Ismail Al-Thawabta, head of the Hamas-run media office in Gaza.
Despite Israeli claims that enough food is entering the territory, UN agencies strongly disagree. They report that vital stocks of therapeutic food for children suffering from severe malnutrition are nearly depleted. The United Nations has also demanded that Israel provide evidence for its claim that some UN humanitarian staff are affiliated with Hamas.
New Deaths, Continued Bombing
Gaza’s Health Ministry reported nine additional deaths from malnutrition in the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes and gunfire continued to pound the enclave. On Friday alone, 21 people were killed, including five in a school sheltering displaced families in Gaza City.
One of the victims was journalist Adam Abu Harbid, who was killed in an overnight strike targeting tents for displaced people. Mourners carried his body through the streets, with his PRESS-marked flak jacket draped over his shroud. Fellow journalist Mahmoud Awadia accused Israel of targeting reporters. Israel denies such claims.
Death Toll Since October
Since launching its offensive in October 2023, Israel has killed at least 58,667 Palestinians, including over 17,400 children, according to health officials in Gaza. Another 139,974 people have been injured, and more than 14,000 remain missing, believed to be buried under rubble.
In November, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Simultaneously, Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its conduct in Gaza.
Humanitarian groups warn that Gaza’s population of 2.2 million faces imminent famine. Israel cut off all supplies in March, then partially reopened the crossings in May under strict controls. These restrictions have slowed aid delivery to a trickle.
With no stable flow of food and essential supplies, aid organizations warn that the death toll from starvation could rise dramatically in the coming weeks. UN agencies urge immediate action to open consistent humanitarian corridors before the situation becomes irreversibly catastrophic.
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