Warnings of Widespread Famine in Gaza: Who Is Hindering Aid Access?
July 23, 2025 — Gaza
Over 100 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) issued a warning on Wednesday about the escalating risk of widespread famine in the Gaza Strip, calling for an immediate ceasefire and the opening of all land crossings to ensure a consistent flow of humanitarian aid.
In a joint statement, organizations including Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders), Amnesty International, Oxfam, and branches of Médecins du Monde and Caritas, stated that signs of widespread famine are becoming evident in Gaza. They reported that humanitarian workers and civilians alike are suffering from severe malnutrition and wasting.
The statement highlighted that large quantities of food, drinking water, medical supplies, shelter materials, and fuel remain stockpiled or undistributed, both inside Gaza and at its borders, due to restrictions on humanitarian access.
U.S. Initiative to Establish a Humanitarian Corridor
In parallel with the warnings, the U.S. Department of State announced that Special Envoy Steve Weitekamp will travel to Europe for talks aimed at finalizing arrangements for a humanitarian corridor to support civilians in Gaza.
On Tuesday evening, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation issued an urgent appeal, stating:
> “No single organization can face this challenge alone. We continue to call on the international humanitarian community, including the United Nations, to scale up efforts and expand the humanitarian response.”
Accusations Over Humanitarian Aid Disruption
Two days ago, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights accused the Israeli military of causing the deaths of over 1,000 individuals at aid distribution points in Gaza since late May. Many of the casualties were reportedly located near facilities operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres also commented, saying that the scale of destruction and the number of casualties in Gaza are “unprecedented in modern history.”
Israel Responds: Aid Allowed, But Hamas Obstructs
Israeli authorities, for their part, maintain that they are facilitating the entry of large quantities of humanitarian aid into Gaza. However, they accuse Hamas of misappropriating aid, including reselling supplies at inflated prices and engaging in gunfire near distribution centers.
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation also placed blame on Hamas, citing the group’s role in the deterioration of humanitarian conditions within the territory.
