Two million people confined to a narrow coastal strip are trapped in a rapidly escalating humanitarian disaster. Under an Israeli blockade now entering its fourth month, the population faces dwindling food supplies, contaminated water, overwhelmed hospitals, and total isolation from the outside world.
Entire neighborhoods rely on black-market bread made from pasta scraps and makeshift fuel alternatives. Medical surgeries have come to a standstill, starvation is on the rise, and there is no clear path to relief.
Despite diplomatic efforts and public commitments to a ceasefire, Israeli military operations have intensified. Humanitarian convoys—when they do arrive—are often looted before reaching civilians. The little aid that enters Gaza rarely survives long enough to provide meaningful assistance.
A Blockade with No Escape. Since early March, the Israeli military has restricted the entry of food, fuel, and medical supplies into Gaza, citing security threats from Hamas. This move coincided with the collapse of a two-month ceasefire and the launch of a new offensive, “Operation Gideon’s Chariot,” aimed at dismantling militant infrastructure. More than 140 new targets were bombed in early July alone, resulting in catastrophic consequences for civilians.
Gaza’s already fragile economy has collapsed. Widespread looting has occurred while armed groups control food and medical supply routes. Fuel shortages have halted water delivery trucks, and hospital generators are left idle. Doctors are unable to perform surgeries, and basic first aid supplies have nearly vanished.
A Humanitarian System on the Verge of Collapse. According to international aid organizations, nearly half a million people are at immediate risk of death from hunger or illness, including 70,000 children under five and 17,000 pregnant women. Health workers are stretched to their limits, with hundreds of humanitarian staff—280 from UNRWA, the UN’s relief agency for Palestinian refugees—having lost their lives since the conflict began.
Aid that does reach Gaza is frequently intercepted by looters or sold at exorbitant prices. In many neighborhoods, black markets have become the only sources for food, water, or medicine, with a single packet of pasta costing more than a family's weekly income. UNICEF estimates that at least 100 children and teenagers die each day, either from starvation or aerial bombardment.
International Outrage, Little Action. Western governments, including the UK, France, and Canada, have threatened sanctions unless Israel opens a humanitarian corridor. The United States, under President Donald Trump, has publicly called for de-escalation but continues its military support for the Israel Defense Forces. So far, diplomatic efforts have failed to secure a sustained ceasefire or significant access for aid.
In a rare gesture, Jordan has temporarily accepted 2,000 wounded Palestinian children for treatment under an arrangement with the United States, but these children are expected to be returned once they recover. None of Gaza’s Arab neighbors have opened their borders to fleeing civilians, leaving the population sealed within a war zone.
A Territory Adrift in Anarchy. As the blockade persists, Gaza has descended into lawlessness. Armed militias have supplanted public order, food lines often escalate into fistfights, and families resort to burning trash for warmth and scavenging for ingredients to make counterfeit bread. With each passing day, the fabric of civil society deteriorates further.
Despite increasing international condemnation, Israeli forces continue their military campaign, asserting that Hamas is responsible for civilian suffering and accusing the group of diverting humanitarian supplies for military purposes. In turn, Hamas has threatened to execute hostages unless the blockade is lifted.
No Exit. There is no organized evacuation taking place. Neither the Palestinian Authority nor Israel is coordinating civilian transfers out of the conflict zone. Aid convoys remain at risk, borders are closed, disease spreads in overcrowded shelters, and hunger deepens with every passing night.
Original article at (Western Banned) at https://english.pravda.ru/world/163035-gaza-crisis-israel-blockade/
