Gaza Crisis Deepens: Israeli Strikes Kill 20 as Starvation Claims 21 Children
According to The Hindu and Al Jazeera on July 22, 2025, Israeli strikes have killed at least 20 people in the Gaza Strip, and a hospital has reported 21 children who have starved to death in just 72 hours. The humanitarian crisis in the region is getting worse. Global indignation and urgent calls for action have been sparked by this worsening situation, which has driven Gaza to the verge of famine due to a 21-month Israeli blockade and ongoing military operations. What is causing this tragedy, and is there anything the international community can do to stop the pain?
Deadly attacks were carried out by Israeli forces throughout Gaza, focusing on previously unaffected areas like Deir al-Balah. More than 2 million Palestinians are in terrible circumstances as a result of these attacks, according to local health officials, and a tightened blockade that has been in place since March 2025. Between July 19 and 22, 2025, 21 child deaths from malnutrition were reported at Gaza City’s Al-Shifa Hospital, one of the few operational medical facilities still in existence. Director Mohammed Abu Salmiya warned of “alarming numbers” as new cases are being reported on an hourly basis. According to UNRWA’s Philippe Lazzarini, the UN, under the leadership of Secretary-General António Guterres, has condemned the breakdown of “lifelines keeping people alive,” with malnutrition on the rise and aid distribution centers turning into “sadistic death traps.”
The blockade is having a serious effect; since May, very little aid has made it to Gaza, far less than what is needed to keep its citizens alive. According to the World Food Programme, 100,000 women and children in Gaza are experiencing severe acute malnutrition, and a third of the population goes days without eating. As witnesses describe chaotic scenes at aid sites, Gaza’s Health Ministry reports that Israeli gunfire has killed more than 1,000 Palestinians seeking food since May, including 80 children in recent days. A mother’s tragic story of giving her children water to “fill their stomachs” illustrates the desperation, as flour and other essentials are still either too costly or in short supply.
There is growing international censure. Human Rights Watch calls Israel’s actions a “deliberate” humanitarian catastrophe and charges it with committing a possible war crime by using starvation as a weapon. Hospitals lack IV fluids and therapeutic formula to treat malnourished children, according to the UN and aid organizations like MedGlobal, and staff members themselves pass out from starvation. However, Israel’s military disputes casualty figures and claims strikes hit “Hamas terrorists,” denying targeting civilians. The civilian toll rises as ceasefire negotiations break down, with Israel insisting on disarmament and Hamas calling for an end to the war.
Attention to this crisis must be given immediately. Will international powers intervene to bring aid back and mediate a settlement, or will Gaza’s suffering worsen? The region is on the verge of an unprecedented man-made famine, and the entire world is watching. Follow along as this tragic tale develops.
