<div dir="ltr">
<h1 class="gmail-single_title">Starvation as a weapon of genocide in Gaza: Testimonies and evidence</h1>
<p class="gmail-single_date">Wednesday 23-July-2025 - <font size="1"><a href="https://english.palinfo.com/news/2025/07/23/343892/">https://english.palinfo.com/news/2025/07/23/343892/</a></font></p>
<div class="gmail-featured_image"><img width="467" height="350" src="https://english.palinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/famine-5.jpg" class="gmail-attachment-name_thumbnail gmail-size-name_thumbnail gmail-wp-post-image" alt="" title="Starvation as a weapon of genocide in Gaza: Testimonies and evidence" style="margin-right: 0px;"> </div>
<div class="gmail-shareArea">
<div class="gmail-picshare">
<div class="et_pb_code_inner">
<div class="gmail-social_home">
<div class="gmail-social_home_inner">
<div class="gmail-social_home_wrapper"><div class="gmail-ETFont gmail-social_home_item gmail-social_home_item1"><a href="https://english.palinfo.com/news/2025/07/23/343892/#"><span class="gmail-social_home_icon"><i class="gmail-fab gmail-fa-facebook-f"></i></span></a></div><div class="gmail-ETFont gmail-social_home_item gmail-social_home_item2"><a href="https://english.palinfo.com/news/2025/07/23/343892/#"><span class="gmail-social_home_icon"><i class="gmail-fa-brands gmail-fa-x-twitter"></i></span></a></div><div class="gmail-FontAw gmail-social_home_item gmail-social_home_item4"><a href="https://english.palinfo.com/news/2025/07/23/343892/#"><span class="gmail-social_home_icon"><i class="gmail-fa-brands gmail-fa-whatsapp"></i></span></a></div></div><div class="gmail-FontAw gmail-social_home_item gmail-social_home_item5"><a href="https://english.palinfo.com/news/2025/07/23/343892/#"><span class="gmail-social_home_icon"><i class="gmail-fa-brands gmail-fa-telegram"></i></span></a></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="gmail-changeSize">
<div class="gmail-zoomInOutNtitle"><div class="gmail-SmallZoomR"><a class="gmail-zoomInOut gmail-increaseFont">+<i class="gmail-fa gmail-fa-font"></i></a> <a class="gmail-zoomInOut gmail-decreaseFont">-<i class="gmail-fa gmail-fa-font"></i></a></div></div></div>
</div>
<div class="gmail-post_content">
<p>GAZA, (PIC)</p>
<p>The Israeli occupation authorities have imposed a suffocating and
comprehensive blockade on the Gaza Strip, characterized by the closure
of border crossings and the prevention of food, medicine, and
humanitarian aid from entering, in blatant violation of international
humanitarian law. A deliberate starvation policy has been used as a
weapon of war, alongside mass killings and the systematic destruction of
essential civilian infrastructure, as part of the largest planned,
open, and direct genocide targeting the Palestinian people.</p>
<p>Since October 8, 2023, until today Wednesday 23/7/2025, the
occupation authorities have continued carrying out these complex crimes
in a deliberate and systematic manner, blatantly disregarding all
international laws and norms, using starvation and thirst as tools of
collective punishment and means to subjugate civilians, forcing them
into displacement or slow death.</p>
<p>Israeli officials have openly declared their intent to use starvation
as a tool of war from the earliest days of the assault. On October 9,
2023, then Israeli War Minister Yoav Gallant said, \u201cWe are imposing a
complete siege on Gaza. No electricity, no food, no water, no gas.
Everything is closed. We are fighting human animals and we act
accordingly.\u201d</p>
<p>This statement, made by the top military authority in the Israeli
government, can only be understood as an explicit, official admission of
criminal intent to use blockade and starvation as tools of genocide in
the context of a comprehensive war targeting the Palestinian existence
in the Gaza Strip.</p>
<p>Over the course of the months-long assault, the occupation forces employed starvation as a method of gradual extermination.</p>
<p>This was done through preventing food from entering, bombing sources
of food, and targeting community kitchens and food relief centers. This
led to a sharp escalation in famine levels and increasing deaths due to
hunger, exhaustion, and malnutrition.</p>
<p class="gmail-has-vivid-cyan-blue-color gmail-has-text-color gmail-has-link-color gmail-wp-elements-715ed9caced2b26af21bb958df326b81">Famine declaration criteria</p>
<p>International organizations follow clear criteria for declaring a famine, which require three conditions:<br>\u2022 At least 20% of the population facing extreme food shortages.<br>\u2022 At least 30% of children suffering from acute malnutrition (dangerous weight loss relative to height).<br>\u2022 A death rate of at least 1 adult per 10,000 per day, or 2 children per 10,000 per day.</p>
<p>Indicators coming from the Gaza Strip suggest that these conditions
have been met since early 2024, making the situation legally and humanly
a documented famine.</p>
<p class="gmail-has-vivid-cyan-blue-color gmail-has-text-color gmail-has-link-color gmail-wp-elements-a8a20afee946df021e75e825032d5b01">I. Background and context</p>
<p>Since 2006, the Gaza Strip has been under a gradual Israeli blockade
that crippled the economy and impoverished the population. Unemployment
exceeded 45%, reaching 67% among youth and university graduates, with
most families depending on aid to meet minimal needs.</p>
<p>However, the aggression that began on October 7, 2023, marked a
transition to an unprecedented level of deliberate destruction. Israel
openly declared starvation as a weapon by closing crossings, blocking
food supplies, and directly targeting warehouses, mills, bakeries,
agricultural lands, markets, and even community kitchens.</p>
<p>It also blocked access to the sea and fishing and directly targeted
the health infrastructure that supports aid convoys and treats
malnutrition patients.</p>
<p class="gmail-has-vivid-cyan-blue-color gmail-has-text-color gmail-has-link-color gmail-wp-elements-b510a8307687ae409fbafa55afcdb519">II. Stages of starvation</p>
<ol class="gmail-wp-block-list"><li><strong>Complete closure (Beginning October 7, 2023)</strong></li></ol>
<p>All crossings were closed, and no food, water, or fuel was allowed
in. Water supply was cut, making thirst a component of the starvation
policy. The population depended on small reserves, which quickly ran out
amid total supply chain collapse.</p>
<ol start="2" class="gmail-wp-block-list"><li><strong>Ground invasions and regional isolation (Late October 2023)</strong></li></ol>
<p>Occupation forces began ground incursions, isolating northern and
central Gaza from the south. Famine became evident in the isolated
regions, especially northern Gaza.</p>
<ol start="3" class="gmail-wp-block-list"><li><strong>Partial opening and short truce (October 21 & November 23\u201330, 2023)</strong></li></ol>
<p>Twenty aid trucks were allowed in through the Rafah crossing on
October 21, covering only 5% of the need. During the November truce,
most aid was directed to the south while the north remained without
relief.</p>
<ol start="4" class="gmail-wp-block-list"><li><strong>Resumption of attacks and starvation of the north (December 2023)</strong></li></ol>
<p>As the aggression resumed, famine deepened in the north. Residents
began relying on tree leaves and animal feed, with documented deaths
from hunger. The occupation forces deliberately bombed farms, bakeries,
and any remaining food sources, even turning food relief centers into
military targets.</p>
<ol start="5" class="gmail-wp-block-list"><li><strong>Flour Massacres</strong></li></ol>
<p>In a symbolic attempt to deflect blame, occupation forces allowed
flour trucks to reach collection points like Kuwait and Nabulsi
roundabouts. These sites became massacre zones, as forces opened fire
and shelled starving crowds. These massacres continued for months.</p>
<ol start="6" class="gmail-wp-block-list"><li><strong>Partial relief (Second Half of 2024)</strong></li></ol>
<p>After the January 19, 2025 ceasefire, some aid was allowed in, though it never exceeded 30% of daily needs.</p>
<ol start="7" class="gmail-wp-block-list"><li><strong>Total Re-tightening (March 2, 2025)</strong></li></ol>
<p>Occupation forces again sealed off all crossings, pushing the famine to unprecedented levels.</p>
<p>Aid distribution massacres (May\u2013July 2025)</p>
<p>On May 27, 2025, Israel announced aid distribution through a newly
created entity named the \u201cGaza Humanitarian Organization,\u201d supervised by
special forces and American mercenaries.</p>
<p>These aid points became sites of mass killings. By July 19, 2025,
these massacres had resulted in 1,021 martyrs and over 6,511 injured,
mostly civilians waiting in bread queues. Occupation forces also
intensified targeting of food relief centers and markets to eliminate
any unofficial food sources.</p>
<p class="gmail-has-vivid-cyan-blue-color gmail-has-text-color gmail-has-link-color gmail-wp-elements-8da7bfd7be042b9dc388295f3ce6a7b1">III. Statistics and indicators (As of July 2025)</p>
<pre class="gmail-wp-block-code"><code>\u2022 111 documented hunger-related deaths, mostly children, as of July 22.
\u2022 Likely dozens more unrecorded starvation deaths registered as \u201cnormal deaths.\u201d
\u2022 2.3 million people trapped without food, water, or medicine.
\u2022 Complete lack of flour, infant formula, and basic foods.
\u2022 42 food relief kitchens targeted by occupation.
\u2022 57 aid and food distribution centers targeted.
\u2022 121 attacks on aid convoys and humanitarian shipments.
\u2022 650,000 children at risk of death from hunger and malnutrition.
\u2022 12,500 cancer patients in urgent need of treatment and nutrition.
\u2022 60,000 pregnant women at risk due to lack of healthcare and food.</code></pre>
<p><strong>According to IPC global classification</strong></p>
<pre class="gmail-wp-block-code"><code>\u2022 1.95 million people (93%) face acute food crisis (Phase 3 or worse).
\u2022 495,000 people (22%) are in actual famine (Phase 5).
\u2022 1 million people (54%) in Phase 4 (emergency).</code></pre>
<p><strong>According to UNICEF</strong></p>
<pre class="gmail-wp-block-code"><code>\u2022 71,000 children suffer from acute malnutrition.
\u2022 17,000 pregnant or breastfeeding women need urgent nutritional and medical intervention.</code></pre>
<p><strong>According to UNRWA</strong></p>
<pre class="gmail-wp-block-code"><code>\u2022 Around 74,000 child screenings conducted.
\u2022 Identified 5,500 cases of acute malnutrition.
\u2022 Over 800 cases of severe acute malnutrition.</code></pre>
<p class="gmail-has-vivid-cyan-blue-color gmail-has-text-color gmail-has-link-color gmail-wp-elements-30612ac64dbd1124938e27c5365599f0">IV. Legal Dimension</p>
<p>Israel\u2019s systematic starvation campaign qualifies as</p>
<pre class="gmail-wp-block-code"><code>\u2022 A war crime under Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.
\u2022 A grave breach of Articles 55 and 56 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which obligate occupying powers to provide food and medical care.
\u2022 A violation of Article 54 of the same Convention, which prohibits targeting civilian survival means.
\u2022 The cumulative effect of starvation amounts to genocide under Article II of the 1948 Genocide Convention.</code></pre>
<p>Statements from Israeli officials and repeated practices show direct
criminal intent to use hunger as a method of extermination, not merely
as a byproduct of war.</p>
<p class="gmail-has-vivid-cyan-blue-color gmail-has-text-color gmail-has-link-color gmail-wp-elements-fbd2491791d9728435c37d120e9219ae">V. Evidence and Testimonies</p>
<pre class="gmail-wp-block-code"><code>\u2022 Official UN, WFP, OCHA, and UN Special Rapporteur reports confirm Gaza is facing \u201cthe worst hunger crisis in modern history,\u201d with starvation used as a systematic tool of aggression.
\u2022 On-the-ground testimonies from doctors and civilians documenting child deaths from dehydration and malnutrition amid total absence of necessary medical supplies.
\u2022 Verified documents, images, and reports confirm deliberate destruction of bakeries, mills, farms, and food storage facilities to wipe out local food production.
\u2022 Repeated denial of aid convoys, obstruction of aid entry, and refusal to open humanitarian corridors despite intense international pressure.
\u2022 Targeting and assassination of police and local committees that organized aid distribution\u2014intended to create chaos and prevent organized food access.</code></pre>
<p class="gmail-has-vivid-cyan-blue-color gmail-has-text-color gmail-has-link-color gmail-wp-elements-458d62d6581afc83a7969f36e49949d2">VI. Recommendations and required actions</p>
<pre class="gmail-wp-block-code"><code>\u2022 Immediate lifting of the blockade and cessation of starvation as a weapon against civilians.
\u2022 Permanent opening of all crossings to allow unrestricted flow of food, water, and medicine.
\u2022 Israeli leaders should stand trial at the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide.
\u2022 Independent and neutral international monitoring of the entry and distribution of humanitarian aid in the Gaza Strip and protection of relief and civil teams.
\u2022 Expansion of UN investigations to include the systematic starvation and thirst policy as part of the genocide case in Gaza.
\u2022 Dispatch urgent international medical and food missions, supervised by the UN, to save hundreds of thousands of children, women, and elderly people from death due to hunger or nutrition-related illnesses.
\u2022 Call for an emergency session of the UN General Assembly and Human Rights Council to condemn the blockade and starvation policy and demand urgent protection for Palestinian civilians.
\u2022 Support documentation and legal accountability campaigns led by civil society organizations and human rights entities, with case submissions to relevant courts and international prosecutors.
\u2022 Pressure international media outlets to force Israel to allow entry of international press into the Gaza Strip to cover the starvation crimes, classify them as genocide, and bring to account media platforms complicit in justifying, covering-up, or distorting facts.
\u2022 Mobilize international communities, unions, and organizations to raise global public awareness and organize protests and actions pressuring governments to adopt firm stances against Israeli aggression and starvation policies.
\u2022 Expose deliberate Israeli disinformation and produce verified, produce a documented and translated documentary exposing the scope of the crime and reinforcing the Palestinian humanitarian and legal narrative.</code></pre>
</div>
<br></div>