Khan Younis, Gaza – The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached a breaking point as Israel’s blockade continues to prevent the entry of food, medicine, and other essential aid. Families, including children, are struggling to survive, with community kitchens running out of supplies and prices for basic necessities skyrocketing.
At a community kitchen in Khan Younis, desperate scenes unfolded as children and adults waved empty pots and pans, pleading for food. Niveen Abu Arar, a 33-year-old mother of eight, left the chaotic scene in tears, her pot empty. “We haven’t eaten bread for a month and a half. There is no flour. There is nothing,” she said, cradling her toddler and feeding her water in place of milk.
A Humanitarian Catastrophe
The United Nations and aid groups have warned that Gaza’s population is on the brink of starvation. With nearly all residents reliant on humanitarian aid, warehouses are empty, and community kitchens are shutting down. A 25-kilogram bag of flour now costs 1,300 shekels (USD 360), far beyond the reach of most families.
“Mothers in Gaza now feed their children one meal per day, dinner, so they don’t wake up and complain they are starving,” said Ghada al Haddad, Oxfam’s media coordinator in Gaza. Over 70 community kitchens are expected to close within a week if the blockade persists.
Impact of the Blockade
Israel has justified the blockade as a measure to pressure Hamas to release hostages and disarm. However, aid groups have condemned the blockade as collective punishment and a violation of international law. The blockade has also devastated Gaza’s agricultural sector, with airstrikes destroying farmland and livestock. Even fishermen have been targeted, further limiting food production.
“Israel has engineered a situation where Palestinians cannot grow their own food or fish for their own food,” said Gavin Kelleher of the Norwegian Refugee Council. The lack of food, water, and shelter has left over 1 million people in dire need.
Calls for Action
Humanitarian organizations have called for immediate action to lift the blockade and allow aid to reach Gaza. “If Israel continues its blockade, thousands of people will die, there will be a complete breakdown of order, and the situation will unfold in the dark,” warned Kelleher.
As the crisis deepens, families like Abu Arar’s are left relying on the kindness of neighbors, sharing meager portions of food to survive. The international community faces mounting pressure to intervene and address the worsening humanitarian disaster in Gaza.
