Gaza Faces Escalating Humanitarian Crisis Amid Ongoing Conflict
Gaza City, May 27, 2025 – The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has reached unprecedented levels as Israeli military operations intensify, triggering mass displacement, widespread hunger, and the collapse of essential services.
Rising Death Toll and Civilian Casualties
Over the past two days, local sources report that more than 130 Palestinians have been killed, including at least 54 on Monday and 77 the previous day. Among the victims was journalist Hasan Samour, who died alongside 11 family members. The violence has not spared civilians seeking refuge, with deadly airstrikes reported on displacement sites such as tent encampments in the al-Mawasi area and a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City, where dozens, including children, lost their lives.
Mass Displacement and Dire Living Conditions
Nearly 180,000 Palestinians have been forcibly displaced in the last two weeks alone, adding to the staggering total of 1.9 million—about 90% of Gaza’s population—who have been uprooted since the conflict began. Many families have been displaced multiple times, often forced to live in makeshift tents or overcrowded shelters with little protection from ongoing bombardment and harsh weather.
Collapse of Healthcare and Aid Blockade
The healthcare system in Gaza is on the brink of total collapse. The European hospital in Gaza has been bombed and forced to close, further crippling the territory’s ability to treat the wounded and sick. With the blockade on humanitarian aid now entering its twelfth week, basic supplies—including food, fuel, and medical aid—have run out. Over one third of essential medical supplies are depleted, and UNRWA food parcels are no longer available.
Starvation and Desperation
Starvation has become widespread, with nearly half a million people now facing catastrophic hunger and acute malnutrition. The World Health Organization warns that the entire population is at imminent risk of famine, with dozens of children already reported dead from malnutrition since the blockade began in March. On Tuesday, chaos erupted at a food distribution site in southern Gaza, where desperate crowds surged to obtain aid, resulting in further casualties and highlighting the acute desperation among residents.
“We have been dying of hunger. We need to feed our children who are crying for food. What choice do we have? I would do anything to provide for them,” a Palestinian father told Al Jazeera.
International Response and Calls for Ceasefire
The United Nations has described the situation in northern Gaza as “apocalyptic,” warning of imminent mass death due to bombardment, starvation, and lack of aid. Humanitarian organizations have condemned attacks on displacement sites and criticized the international community’s inaction as the death toll mounts. Aid groups have also raised concerns about new, untested distribution mechanisms that may further endanger civilians and fail to reach those most in need.
As infrastructure collapses and the humanitarian catastrophe deepens, calls for an immediate ceasefire and unfettered humanitarian access are growing louder worldwide. The fate of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents hangs in the balance as violence and deprivation continue unabated.