Health experts say starvation in Gaza will reach a point of no return

Health professionals working at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) facilities are watching as Gaza’s population descends into citywide malnutrition at the hands of Israeli authorities. Two clinics founded by MSF in Gaza warn that without a stable supply of food, starvation in Gaza will reach a point of no return.

A report from MSF facilities stationed in Gaza has revealed that malnutrition cases are at an all time high. The number of documented cases has reached an appalling 983 between July 1 and July 11, compared to the 293 cases in the entire month of May. “This is my third time in Gaza, and I’ve never seen anything like this,” said MSF Doctor, Joanne Perry.

Over 700 pregnant women and nearly 500 children show signs of and are being treated for moderate to severe malnutrition, stated by MSF’s report. July’s cases record that out of all the starving children being treated, 326 of them are between six and 23 months old. In an article published by The Independent, Ahmed Najar shares the story of her sister, who has nothing but grass to feed her four children. 

“She came back empty-handed, except for some grass. That’s what she gave them that day. There was nothing else.” says Najar.

In an effort to put pressure on Hamas to release hostages, Israel’s blockade of Gaza’s food supply trucks started in March and continued for two and a half months according to The AP. In May, Israel decided to ease up on the pressure and allow food trucks into Gaza daily. 

The U.N. determined that 500 to 600 food trucks per day are required to feed Gaza’s population, but Israeli forces only allow a daily average of 69 trucks into Gaza, as stated by the AP. A majority of the food brought into Gaza is taken by sizable hungry crowds and gangs. 

Another AP article published on July 23 states that since May, over 1,000 hungry Palestinians were shot and killed by Israeli soldiers while trying to collect food. A large majority of Palestinians were murdered near the sites of an Israeli backed humanitarian organization called The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.

Gaza’s growing rate of starvation is highly calculated and deliberate by Israel, with Palestinians taking the risk of being shot just to get a single meal. According to MSF doctors, the supply of clean water in Gaza is being contaminated by sewage due to bombed infrastructure. 

“The starvation of people in Gaza is intentional, it can end tomorrow if the Israeli authorities allow food in at scale.” says Mohammed Abu Mughaisib, deputy medical coordinator at MSF’s clinic in South Gaza.