The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has spiralled further into catastrophe as Israeli gunfire, looting, and severe restrictions choke off the flow of desperately needed food aid. Despite claims of easing access, aid convoys face violent attacks, crippling bureaucracy, and dangerous bottlenecks along the few routes permitted by the Israeli military.

The Washington Post reports harrowing scenes at distribution points where starving civilians risk their lives under constant threat of gunfire. UN officials warn that only a fraction of the aid required is getting through, fuelling what they describe as a “worst-case famine scenario.” Gaza’s health authorities say at least 154 people, most of them in July alone, have died from malnutrition as food supplies dwindle.

Aid experts argue this collapse is no accident but the direct result of the blockade and ongoing military campaign, which have devastated infrastructure and pushed civilians into desperation. With most of Gaza declared military zones and only two congested aid corridors open, the risk of violence and theft has soared, compounding the suffering of more than two million besieged residents.

International pressure is mounting for Israel to lift restrictions and allow unimpeded aid access. For Palestinians trapped in Gaza, however, survival has become a daily battle against hunger, bullets, and an imposed system that leaves little hope of relief.