The Gaza Strip has entered a critical stage of starvation, as confirmed fatalities include a 17-year-old boy, Atef Abu Khater, who died at al-Shifa Hospital. He had been previously healthy before succumbing to acute malnutrition. Journalists on the ground, like Ahmed al-Najjar in Khan Younis, describe Gaza as a place of “tragedy and torment,” where people fear stepping outside in search of basic necessities. “There is not any sort of presence of police or security forces,” said al-Najjar. “Even walking to get a bag of flour can be a death sentence.”

The total collapse of civilian infrastructure and law enforcement has led to a power and security vacuum, with residents caught between Israeli bombardments and the absence of reliable humanitarian access. Aid groups report a breakdown in safe zones, with continued targeting of police and aid infrastructure.

Humanitarian Access Blocked And Weaponized

Since March, Israel had blocked most food aid into Gaza, allowing limited access only after international criticism in late May. Even so, aid has been managed by the GHF—a controversial entity backed by Israel and the U.S.—which has been accused by whistleblowers of grave human rights violations, including the use of lethal force at food distribution hubs.

UN reports say more than 1,300 people have been killed while attempting to access food through GHF routes, with both Israeli soldiers and U.S. security contractors allegedly involved. In response to global outrage, Israel initiated a limited daily “tactical pause” in military operations to allow aid convoys, while Western and Arab countries began airdrop efforts. But UNICEF officials stress that air deliveries cannot meet the scale of the need. “What children in Gaza need,” Chaiban said, “is a sustained ceasefire and a political way forward.”