Elderly Palestinians Face Starvation as Famine Grips Gaza

Elderly individuals in Gaza are dying from hunger as a severe famine takes hold in the region. International organizations and news reports describe the crisis as an “Israeli-made famine,” with the elderly being among the most vulnerable populations.

Key developments:

• Widespread Malnutrition The famine has led to dramatic weight loss and deteriorating health among older Palestinians. One man reported his weight dropping from 78kg to 42kg. Doctors and caregivers report that the vast majority of elderly patients arriving at hospitals and nursing homes are diagnosed with acute malnutrition and anemia.youtube
• Confirmed Famine A UN-backed body, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), has officially confirmed that famine is present in Gaza, affecting over half a million people. The report states the crisis is “entirely man-made”. Famine conditions are met when thresholds for extreme food deprivation, acute malnutrition, and starvation-related deaths are breached.
• Aid Obstruction Aid agencies accuse Israel of systematically obstructing food supplies from entering the Gaza Strip. While Israel denies causing a famine and attributes shortages to aid agencies and Hamas, the UN and other groups report that restrictions on goods, the collapse of market systems, and damage to cropland have led to the current situation.
• Humanitarian Toll More than 300 Palestinians have died as a result of the famine since the war began. In nursing homes, the situation is dire, with staff reporting they have no basic supplies and have lost numerous residents to hunger. The lack of food also severely impacts mental health, compounding the physical decline of those affected.youtube

UN officials have voiced grave concerns, with the UN Human Rights Chief stating that using starvation as a method of warfare is a war crime. Meanwhile, the conflict continues to have devastating consequences for civilians, particularly for vulnerable groups like the elderly, children, and those with disabilities.