A severe hunger crisis is gripping Gaza, with Palestinians facing dire conditions due to Israel‘s relentless bombardment and limited aid. The hashtag #GazaIsStarving has been trending on social media, highlighting the devastating impact of the crisis on civilians, particularly children. The Arabic version of the hashtag appeared in over 227,000 posts on X and over 5,000 posts on Instagram, sparking widespread outrage and concern.
The crisis has been further exacerbated by Israeli forces killing dozens of starving Palestinians daily, with many more suffering from malnutrition. Palestinian surgeon Ghassan Abu Sittah’s warning from October 31, 2023, “People have started going hungry,” has become a grim reality nearly two years later. The United Nations and aid agencies have raised alarms that Israel is starving Palestinian civilians, including over a million children, by blocking food and medicine from entering the enclave.
Social media platforms have been flooded with images and videos showcasing the extent of the humanitarian crisis. A post on X shows Palestinian children visibly suffering from malnutrition during medical examinations at a UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) clinic in Gaza City. Verified videos and photos depict Israeli security forces using pepper spray on Palestinians seeking food at aid distribution hubs and civilians fleeing from Israeli tanks and bulldozers.
The international community has expressed growing concern over the crisis, with many countries and rights groups labeling it a genocide. Protests have been held across the UK in support of Palestine Action, despite arrests. British surgeon Nick Maynard has spoken out about the pattern of gunshot wounds in Gazan teens near US/Israel-backed aid sites, describing it as “almost like a game.”