Shafaq News – Gaza
International condemnations escalated on Wednesday as Gaza's humanitarian crisis reached unprecedented levels, with starvation-related deaths continuing to rise.
The Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza reported that 111 people—including at least 80 children—have died from famine and malnutrition since October 7, 2023, ten of whom died in the past 24 hours. Inside Gaza, the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) reported that even its own staff are succumbing to hunger, with many aid workers fainting due to extreme malnutrition.
The United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres described the situation as a “horror show,” warning that starvation is “knocking on every door” in Gaza. He denounced what he called an unparalleled level of destruction and death in recent memory.
More than 100 international humanitarian organizations—including Amnesty International, Doctors Without Borders, Mercy Corps, and the Norwegian Refugee Council—issued a joint statement accusing Israel of driving the humanitarian collapse in Gaza. They cited restrictions, delays, and administrative fragmentation under the siege as key causes of what they called “chaos, starvation, and death.” The groups demanded an immediate and permanent ceasefire, unfettered aid access across Gaza, and the restoration of a neutral, UN-led relief effort."
Twenty-eight Western-aligned nations—including the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Canada—issued a joint statement condemning what they called the “drip feeding” of aid and the killing of civilians seeking food and water. They described Israel’s aid delivery model as inhumane and destabilizing and called for an immediate end to the war. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen described images emerging from Gaza as “unbearable.”
The United States, however, rejected the joint statement. A US Ambassador reportedly described the statement as “disgusting” and instead called for increased pressure on Hamas. US envoy Steve Witkoff is currently traveling to Europe for ceasefire discussions and talks on establishing a humanitarian aid corridor.
Meanwhile, the Iranian government issued a sharp condemnation of Israel, accusing it of deliberately killing and starving Palestinians, and called on the international community to intervene to halt what it described as a “genocide.” Jordan’s King Abdullah renewed his demand to lift the siege immediately, while Kuwait also denounced the ongoing blockade. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation warned of a rapidly unfolding humanitarian catastrophe.
Former Tunisian President Moncef Marzouki began a symbolic hunger strike in support of the people of Gaza. Tunisian journalist Bassam Bounni also joined the initiative and launched the hashtag #hungerstrikeforgaza. The International Committee to Break the Siege on Gaza called for a coordinated global hunger strike and demonstrations outside US and Israeli embassies.
Protests also erupted outside the UN Secretary-General’s residence in New York, where demonstrators demanded stronger action to stop the starvation in Gaza.