Humanitarian crisis in Gaza: context, evolution and current situation.

photo by hosnysalah on pixabay.com

The current crisis in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a large-scale attack against Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking hundreds of hostages. Israel responded by declaring war on Gaza and, starting October 9, 2023, imposed a total blockade that prevented the entry of food, water, medicine, fuel, and electricity.

Since then, the situation has spiraled into an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe. By the end of 2024, more than 44,000 people had been killed and over 104,000 injured, mostly civilians, while by April 2025, estimates indicated about 50,500 deaths. Among the victims were thousands of children, journalists, and healthcare workers, making Gaza one of the deadliest places in the world for aid providers.

The blockade has triggered a devastating food and health crisis. Gaza is now experiencing near-total famine conditions, with a real risk of mass starvation. In March 2025, the absence of aid caused deaths by starvation, while food prices rose by up to 1,400%. By the end of April, more than 65,000 children were suffering from acute malnutrition, with numbers expected to rise quickly. Meanwhile, the healthcare system has collapsed: hospitals have been destroyed, medicines are unavailable, and emergency clinics like the one in Rafah struggle to handle an unmanageable number of casualties.

Around 90% of Gaza’s population has been forced to leave their homes due to bombings and destruction, with many families displaced multiple times in just a few months. Homes, schools, hospitals, and vital infrastructure have been razed or rendered unusable. Organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the United Nations denounce the use of starvation as a weapon of war, describing the situation as genocide.

In December 2023, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants against Prime Minister Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders for crimes against humanity, while South Africa launched a case at the International Court of Justice over violations of the Genocide Convention.

By mid-August 2025, the situation remained dire: in the previous 24 hours, 25 people were reported killed in strikes on areas considered “safe”, while more than 250 people died of starvation in a single day. UNICEF warns that 21% of children in Gaza City suffer from acute malnutrition, with thousands treated each month. Israel has proposed the “voluntary” relocation of Palestinians outside Gaza, a plan widely criticized as forced deportation. Meanwhile, ceasefire talks continue in Cairo with Hamas and Egyptian mediators, as Israel intensifies military operations and signals plans to reoccupy Gaza City by October.

written by Sara Maggetto