Gaza’s Agony of Hunger: When the Body Begins to Consume Itself Due to Food Scarcity
Gaza’s hunger emergency explained: What occurs when human beings are deprived of food? Why is starvation or undernourishment more dangerous for children? “We are essentially consuming our own bodies for nutrients,” explains expert
One of the most painful outcomes of the Israel-Gaza conflict has been the rising number of deaths due to starvation and malnutrition-related illnesses. Gaza’s population of 2.1 million people has endured unrelenting attacks and repeated displacement — many have been forced to flee not once or twice, but even ten times since the war began.
This continuous instability, combined with blocked humanitarian aid, has led to conditions of acute hunger.
How children became victims of the Hamas-Israel conflict
The conflict was ignited when Hamas militants entered southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing nearly 1,200 people and taking 251 others as hostages. Out of those, 50 hostages remain in Gaza, though fewer than half are believed to be alive. In retaliation, Israeli military actions have reportedly led to the deaths of over 59,000 Palestinians, as per Gaza’s Health Ministry. Though this ministry functions under the Hamas government, the United Nations and several global agencies regard it as the most reliable authority for casualty statistics.
Israel enforced a full blockade on food and other supplies for around two and a half months starting in March, claiming the move was intended to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages taken during the October 7 attack.
Why is aid not effectively reaching Gazans?
Although aid delivery restarted in May, it is slow and far below the levels humanitarian agencies deem necessary. The number of aid trucks entering Gaza has sometimes fallen to as low as 10–20 per day, in contrast to the pre-war average of 500. As a result, the humanitarian support system is functioning at a bare minimum—just enough to avoid total collapse, but not enough to prevent widespread starvation, disease, and fatalities.
How is aid accessed in Gaza? Why are people dying while collecting food? Why does malnutrition persist despite aid?
Most of the food allowed by Israel into Gaza is routed through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), an American organisation supported by Israel. People in need of aid—on foot, in carts, or vehicles—make their way up to a designated drop-off area, usually about 1.5 km from the distribution centre. There, they must disembark and continue on foot, carrying whatever they can.
They proceed to al Joura, a sandy pit where families often wait for 12 to 24 hours for a drone or military signal indicating it’s safe to approach the aid distribution site. Once that signal is given, they walk roughly another kilometre through zones guarded by Israeli checkpoints, sniper nests, drones, and barriers to finally reach the heavily guarded gate of the distribution point.
Eyewitnesses have reported that gunfire is sometimes heard near or even inside al Joura—before the signal is given—posing serious danger to the waiting crowds.
Once the signal is received, thousands of people who have waited for hours (sometimes overnight) begin sprinting toward the gate to get aid before supplies are exhausted. This often leads to stampedes. People must cross 500–1,000 metres of open ground—monitored by Israeli drones and surrounded by snipers, checkpoints, and trenches.
Even after receiving the signal, gunfire reportedly continues—either to manage the crowd or for unclear reasons. Many have been killed or wounded—hit by live rounds, rubber bullets, or drone-fired missiles; others have been crushed during the crowd surge or trampled in panic.
Only a small number are permitted entry through the final gate by Israeli soldiers or GHF staff. The rest must either return or wait another day.
Deaths during aid collection in Gaza
According to the United Nations and aid organisations, at least 875 people have lost their lives since late May while trying to access food, water, or healthcare. The majority—more than 670—died near GHF distribution points, mostly in Rafah and Khan Younis.
Rising starvation and nutrition-related deaths in Gaza
The UN’s World Food Programme reports that over one-third of Gaza’s population has gone for days without food. Nearly 25% of the population is believed to be experiencing “famine-like” conditions. The World Health Organization warns that the “worst-case scenario of famine” is no longer just a possibility—it is already underway.
The statistics are alarming: As of July 22, 2025, Gaza’s Health Ministry reported 101 starvation and malnutrition-related deaths since October 2023, including 80 children. By July 30, Anadolu Agency confirmed 154 deaths, of which 89 were children. Reuters, on August 1, reported 156 total deaths—90 of them children.
A UNICEF statement from July 24 highlighted that deaths due to child malnutrition increased from 52 to 80 in just a few months. On August 2, WHO reported 21 deaths of children under five due to malnutrition in 2025, up to mid-July.
Moreover, UNICEF estimates that around 100,000 women and children in Gaza are suffering from severe malnutrition. Other UN agencies warn of fast-spreading diseases and the near-total breakdown of healthcare facilities.
Case Study 1: A Gaza family’s daily struggle for food
An AP report tells the story of one such family. Each morning, Abeer and Fadi Sobh wake up in their tent in Gaza with the same worry: how to find food for their six small children. They have three options—hope that a charitable kitchen is open to serve watery lentils, try to wrestle their way to get flour from a passing aid truck, or resort to begging.
If none of these work, they go hungry. This is happening more frequently as their strength, energy, and hopes slowly diminish.
The Sobh family, living in a seaside refugee camp west of Gaza City after being repeatedly displaced, represents the condition of countless families in this war-torn land.
Aid worker says she no longer recognises friends due to hunger
Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), told CNN’s Ben Hunte that she is “speechless” when she sees her friends in Gaza, given their devastated condition.
“Situation gone from bad to worse”: Doctor on Gaza starvation
Dr. Zeena Salman, a paediatric oncologist and founder of HEAL Palestine, told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer that what is happening in Gaza is nothing less than the complete collapse of the health system.
What happens to the human body when it is starved?
“If you are not eating enough, the human body has evolved ways to survive,” explains Dr. Kevin Stephenson, a malnutrition expert at Washington University in St. Louis, USA, to NPR. “We basically start consuming our own body for nutrition.”
This process takes place in five overlapping stages as the body adapts to the lack of energy sources:
0–6 hours: Post-meal or normal phase
The body relies on glucose from the last meal. Glycogen stored in the liver and muscles is still available.
60–72 hours: Glycogen depletion, ketosis starts
Within 24–48 hours, glycogen is depleted. The body starts breaking down fat into ketones to fuel the brain and muscles. Blood sugar levels drop slightly. Symptoms include extreme hunger, irritability, tiredness, headaches, and dizziness.
3–7 days: Muscle breakdown starts
The body begins digesting muscle proteins for energy and essential functions. Ketones become the main energy source. Muscle loss, slowed heartbeat, low body temperature occur. Mental clarity may be affected. The immune system weakens.
7–21 days: Severe starvation
Fat stores are nearly gone. The body loses vital muscles, including heart and diaphragm. Symptoms include severe fatigue, loss of coordination, low blood pressure, breathing difficulty, swelling due to protein deficiency. Organs begin failing, and mental functioning worsens—hallucinations, confusion, and unconsciousness may occur.
21–70 days: Death due to starvation
Death results from heart failure, infections due to immune system collapse, organ failure, or dehydration.
Estimated survival time
- Without food but with water: 45–70 days
- Without food and water: 3–10 days, depending on weather and health condition
Can starvation be reversed?
Yes, but refeeding must be done slowly. A sudden intake of nutrients can lead to Refeeding Syndrome—a potentially fatal shift in fluids and electrolytes.
Starvation in children like those in Gaza
Children’s bodies decline much faster during starvation. They require constant nutrients for growth, but have fewer energy reserves. UNICEF says 12.2 million children globally suffered from severe malnutrition last year—South Asia being the most affected. Gaza is rapidly contributing to that count.
Children, especially under 5, are most at risk:
- Marasmus: Extreme calorie deficiency leading to severe weight loss
- Kwashiorkor: Lack of protein causes swelling, skin and hair issues, liver problems
Symptoms include:
- Sunken eyes, visible ribs
- Thin limbs but a swollen abdomen
- Listlessness or persistent crying
- Peeling skin, discoloured hair
Psychological impacts:
- Irritability and sadness
- Inability to concentrate or remember
- Emotional numbness or hallucinations in critical stages
