The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached a devastating milestone — 60 days without the entry of food, water, or medical supplies. Since March 2, the Israeli blockade has completely shut off vital aid to the besieged territory, pushing over two million Palestinians deeper into what the United Nations warns is a looming famine.

This worsening crisis comes as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague enters its third day of hearings, focusing on Israel’s legal responsibilities in the face of severe humanitarian need in Gaza and the occupied West Bank.

The United Nations and other international organisations are raising alarm over what they describe as “full-scale famine conditions.” The UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) says all its bakeries in Gaza have closed, with food stocks now fully depleted. Families, aid workers say, are being forced to survive on whatever scraps they can find — even unsafe or expired food.

“People are literally running out of options,” said an official from UNRWA, the UN agency for Palestinian refugees. “Many are eating leaves or animal feed. We’re watching a crisis of hunger turn into a catastrophe.”

The situation worsened after Israel resumed airstrikes and ground operations on March 18, ending a brief ceasefire that had offered a glimmer of relief. Since the war began on October 7, 2023, over 52,000 Palestinians have reportedly lost their lives, with many more injured or displaced.

A recent report from the UN’s Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reveals that much of Gaza’s farmland has become inaccessible. Around 70% of the territory has either been declared a “no-go zone” or is under evacuation orders, cutting off food production and disrupting what little remained of Gaza’s local food system.

Aid agencies warn that soup kitchens — some of the last lifelines for thousands of families — are days away from shutting down due to lack of supplies.

Meanwhile, food prices have soared by more than 500%, according to Mercy Corps. Wheat flour and cooking fuel are nearly impossible to find, and even basic cooking is out of reach for many.

An emergency food security assessment led by the global watchdog IPC (Integrated Food Security Phase Classification) began on April 28. Over 50 analysts from international aid groups and UN agencies are working together to assess the scale of hunger and malnutrition inside Gaza.

On the health front, hospitals are overwhelmed. WafricNews correspondent Hani Mahmoud, reporting from Gaza City, described harrowing scenes in emergency rooms where patients are dying silently from preventable causes due to the lack of basic medical supplies.

“There’s not even paracetamol available,” Mahmoud said. “The medical system is crumbling under the pressure.”

At the ICJ in The Hague, the hearings continue amid calls for accountability. But tensions rose on Wednesday after U.S. representative Josh Simmons defended Israel’s refusal to cooperate with UNRWA, citing national security concerns. This follows Israel’s controversial ban on the agency’s operations in the enclave — a ban that many say has further hindered the flow of aid.

The ICJ proceedings stem from a request made by the UN General Assembly last year, asking for an advisory opinion on what obligations Israel holds in facilitating humanitarian aid during conflict.

As Gaza's residents endure yet another day without essentials, the world watches — many with growing concern, and others, with frustration over the lack of action.


By WafricNews Desk | April 30, 2025