The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has confirmed that its food supplies in Gaza are now completely depleted due to Israel’s ongoing blockade, which has been in place for eight weeks. According to a statement released by the WFP on Friday, the organization has distributed its last remaining food stocks to local kitchens in Gaza, with these resources expected to run out in the coming days.
Impact on 400,000 People in Gaza
Over 400,000 people in Gaza rely on aid from WFP, and their survival now depends on whether humanitarian assistance can resume. Antoine Renard, the WFP’s representative in Palestine, emphasized that local non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are also facing shortages. He stated, “We are being depleted.”
Blockade and Supply Shortages
Since March 2, Israel has imposed a complete blockade on aid entering Gaza, which includes food, medicine, and fuel. This has occurred despite a 2024 World Court order demanding that Israel allow the entry of humanitarian supplies. Food reserves accumulated during a nearly two-month ceasefire earlier this year have been exhausted, and the cost of remaining food on the open market has skyrocketed by 1,400 percent, according to the WFP.
Widespread Hunger and Rationing
Hani Mahmoud, Al Jazeera’s correspondent in Gaza City, reported widespread hunger and malnutrition. He explained, “People are hungry and rationing their supplies. It’s not just the organizations – families are also running out of food.” He also remarked that it is “hard to imagine” how hundreds of thousands of families who have relied on WFP’s daily meals will manage without this critical lifeline.
Gaza Government’s Warning of Starvation
The Gaza Government Media Office has warned that the dwindling food supplies may push thousands of Palestinian families toward starvation. The office reported that 52 people, including 50 children, have already died from hunger and malnutrition, while over one million children face hunger every day.
Israel’s Continued Blockade Despite Global Condemnation
Despite the worsening humanitarian crisis, Israel has shown no intention of lifting the blockade. Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz reiterated that the blockade would continue, labeling it a strategy to exert pressure on Hamas. Israel’s military has accused Hamas of exploiting humanitarian aid, although the group denies these claims. Israel maintains that the blockade is necessary to prevent weapons from reaching Hamas fighters.
However, Israel’s blockade strategy has faced increasing condemnation. Germany, France, and the United Kingdom have collectively denounced the action, describing it as “intolerable” and warning that it is exacerbating the risk of starvation, epidemic diseases, and death.