The northern part of Gaza is facing a dire humanitarian crisis, with tens of thousands of Palestinians enduring extreme hunger after being under Israeli siege for nearly a month. With food supplies almost entirely cut off, many families are forced to ration their last remnants of lentils and flour, and some risk their lives to scavenge food from the rubble of destroyed homes.
A few have managed to escape to Gaza City, but the situation there is similarly bleak. Hospitals report high levels of malnutrition, with children suffering the most, and one nutritionist treated a pregnant woman who weighed only 88 pounds.
Amidst these harrowing conditions, some Palestinians remain determined to stay in their homes, believing that Israel’s siege is an attempt to force them to abandon the area. A father of eight, Mohammed Arqouq, describes the ongoing ordeal as a deliberate strategy to starve them into fleeing, declaring that they are prepared to die in their homes rather than be driven out.
The ongoing Israeli military campaign, which began in October, has been focused on targeting militants in the region, but it has led to widespread devastation in the northern towns.
As the siege continues, hunger experts warn that famine is either imminent or already unfolding in northern Gaza. The U.S. has issued a 30-day ultimatum to Israel to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, threatening potential restrictions on U.S. military funding if the situation does not improve.
Despite the pressure, Israel has been allowing only a fraction of the required aid. While the U.S. has pushed for 350 trucks of supplies to enter daily, Israel has only permitted around 57 to 81 trucks per day, far short of what is needed.
The limited aid that does reach Gaza is often delayed or blocked by ongoing military operations. The U.N. reports that much-needed supplies are frequently stranded at the border due to Israeli military restrictions and general lawlessness, with only a trickle of food reaching Gaza City.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens in Northern Gaza as Hunger and Malnutrition Surge Amid Israeli Siege
Some shipments are even forced to unload before reaching their intended destinations, leaving many in the northern towns like Beit Hanoun and Jabaliya without adequate resources. Many Palestinians living in these areas are struggling to find enough food, with some scavenging the debris of bombed buildings in search of whatever they can salvage.
The situation is particularly desperate for displaced families, who are living in overcrowded shelters with limited access to food and water. Families like that of Um Saber, a widow with six children, have been forced to flee multiple times, living in a single home with dozens of other displaced people.
Others, such as Ahmed Abu Awda, describe eating only one meal a day or sometimes going without food entirely. Some families resort to eating moldy flour scavenged from destroyed homes, sifting it before using it to make food, as they try to make do with whatever meager supplies they have.
Fears are growing that Israel may have long-term plans to depopulate northern Gaza. Some observers believe Israel is pursuing a “surrender-or-starve” strategy, attempting to force Palestinians to leave or succumb to hunger.
While Israeli authorities have denied any such plan, the forced evacuations and the ongoing military offensives raise suspicions among many Palestinians. In Gaza City, where tens of thousands of displaced people have taken shelter, food and resources are also running dangerously low, and much of the city has been destroyed by Israeli bombardments.
Medical workers in Gaza, particularly those in hospitals like the Patient Friend Benevolent Hospital, report a sharp increase in cases of severe malnutrition, with the number of children suffering from malnutrition rising dramatically. The situation has become so dire that hospital staff are unable to provide adequate treatment due to shortages of supplies and overcrowded facilities.
Nutritionists and doctors are struggling to keep up with the overwhelming number of patients, and many families are left to fend for themselves with minimal support. As the rainy season approaches, conditions are expected to worsen, with some displaced people seeking shelter in already damaged buildings, further increasing the risk of disease and exposure.
