Israel defies ceasefire, Gaza faces looming famine

Israel Resists Ceasefire While Gaza Faces Imminent Famine

Despite the United Nations’ urgent warning that a famine is approaching in Gaza, Israel has refused to halt the fighting against Hamas. The health ministry in the Hamas‑run territory reported that the death toll has now surpassed 60,000 in the nearly 22‑month war. These figures exclude casualties caused by hunger, which is amplifying the dire humanitarian conditions that Israel blocked from March to May.

Temporary Pause in Hostilities and Aid Delivery

• Israel launched a daily pause in fighting and opened secure routes to allow the UN and non‑governmental agencies to distribute food across the Gaza Strip.
• Hundreds of truckloads of aid have begun to arrive, but Israeli strikes continued overnight and killed 30 people in the Nuseirat refugee camp, according to Gaza’s civil defence agency.

UN‑Backed Warning of Looming Humanitarian Catastrophe

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC) – a coalition of UN monitors – warned that “the worst‑case scenario of famine is now unfolding in the Gaza Strip.”

• World Food Programme emergency director Ross Smith likened the situation to “some of the worst famines of the past century.”
• Smith said, “We need urgent action now,” in a video link from Rome.

Government Statements and International Response

In a statement ahead of the IPC report, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office accused Hamas of distorting casualty figures and of looting food aid destined for Palestinian civilians.

• Netanyahu’s office claimed that Hamas “benefits from attempting to fuel the perception of a humanitarian crisis.”
• Netanyahu stated that “we already allow significant amounts of humanitarian aid into Gaza every single day, including food, water and medicine.”
• He also accused Hamas of “stealing aid from the Gaza population … many times by shooting Palestinians.”

Although Netanyahu insisted that “there was no starvation in Gaza,” even U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the situation “appears to be real starvation.”

Blockade, Tactical Pauses, and Aid Truckloads

• Israel imposed a total blockade on Gaza on March 2 after ceasefire talks collapsed.
• In late May, a small trickle of aid began to resume, amid warnings of a wave of starvation.
• On Sunday, facing international alarm, Israel began a series of “tactical pauses” and allowed aid trucks to cross two border crossings into Gaza, while Jordanian and Emirati planes airdropped aid.
• Over the next several days, shipments ramped up: more than 200 truckloads in one day and an additional 260 truckloads allowed on the following day. Four UN tankers brought in fuel and 20 pallets of aid were airdropped.
• Despite these efforts, the IPC argued that the aid flow “will not prove enough unless agencies are given immediate, unimpeded access.”

“Failure to act now will result in widespread death in much of the Strip,” the IPC warned. It cited evidence of 16 children under five who have died of hunger since July 17. Meanwhile, widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease were “driving a rise in hunger‑related deaths.”

Military Operations and Civil Defences

According to Netanyahu’s office, the pause in military operations covers “key populated areas” from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm each day. They claimed that designated aid convoy routes were secure from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.

Nevertheless, Israeli air strikes continued overnight. Gaza’s civil defence agency reported that at least 30 Palestinians, including women and children, were killed in a nighttime strike on the Nuseirat refugee camp.

• Senior civil defence spokesman Mahmud Bassal stated that the strikes “targeted a number of citizens’ homes” within the camp.
• The Al‑Awda hospital reported receiving the bodies of 30 martyrs, including 14 women and 12 children.
• An Israeli military spokesman said additional information was required to investigate the strikes.

Political Stance and Call for Ceasefire

Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, confronted reporters in Jerusalem, condemning what he called a “distorted campaign” of international pressure. He warned that a ceasefire, “while Hamas remains in power in Gaza and continues to hold hostages,” would be a tragedy for both Israelis and Palestinians.

“It ain’t gonna happen, no matter how much pressure is put on Israel,” he said.