The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns over escalating malnutrition in Gaza, warning that rates are on a “dangerous trajectory” as international aid efforts resume.
On Sunday, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates dropped 25 tonnes of aid into Gaza, following Israel’s declaration of a daily “tactical pause” in military operations in certain areas. The Israeli government said it would halt fighting for 10 hours a day in parts of Gaza and open secure routes for United Nations aid convoys, aiming to “refute the false claim of intentional starvation.” Hamas, however, accused Israel of trying to “whitewash its image.”
UN aid chief Tom Fletcher confirmed a partial easing of movement restrictions, stating that over 100 truckloads of aid were collected from crossings into Gaza. “This is progress,” Fletcher said, “but vast amounts of aid are needed to stave off famine and a catastrophic health crisis.”
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) also reported dropping seven aid packages containing flour, sugar, and canned goods. Despite these efforts, violence continued. Medics reported nine people killed and 54 injured by Israeli fire near an aid convoy route in central Gaza. The incident occurred along Salah al-Din Street in the Netzarim Corridor, where civilians had gathered in anticipation of UN aid. The IDF claimed it had fired warning shots at a “gathering of suspects” but was unaware of any casualties.
An airstrike also struck a residential block in the Al-Rimal district of western Gaza City shortly after the pause took effect. BBC Verify geolocated the incident using videos and witness reports. The IDF said it had no knowledge of a strike at those coordinates.
According to the UN’s World Food Programme, one in four people in Gaza is enduring famine-like conditions, and a third of the population goes several days without eating. The Hamas-run health ministry reported over 100 recent deaths due to malnutrition and hundreds more killed while trying to access food aid.
U.S. President Donald Trump pledged additional aid but emphasized that the situation is “an international problem – it’s not a U.S. problem.” UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy also voiced support for air drops but stressed that land routes remain the only sustainable solution.
Residents of Gaza expressed cautious hope about the humanitarian pause. “Of course I feel a bit of hope again, but also worried that starvation would continue once the pause is over,” said Rasha Al-Sheikh Khalil, a mother of four. Another resident, Neveen Saleh, a mother of six, said her family had not eaten fresh fruit or vegetables in four months.
Imad Kudaya, a journalist from southern Gaza, said many air-dropped aid packages had landed in demilitarized zones under Israeli control, making access extremely dangerous.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reiterated that Israel would continue its military campaign, stating, “We will continue to act until we achieve all of our war goals – until complete victory.” Meanwhile, Khalil al-Hayya, the exiled head of Hamas in Gaza, dismissed ceasefire negotiations as “meaningless under continued blockade and starvation.”
The war began on October 7, 2023, following a Hamas-led attack that killed 1,200 people and took 251 hostages in southern Israel. According to the Hamas-run health ministry, over 59,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of Israel’s military campaign.
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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