World's Inattentiveness Towards Fasting Crisis in Gaza: Ignorance is Not an Option
The small coastal enclave of Gaza, home to over 2 million residents, is on the brink of a catastrophic humanitarian disaster. United Nations and humanitarian agencies have issued stark warnings that the region is running out of specialised therapeutic food needed to save the lives of severely malnourished children [1][4].
Taoiseach Micheál Martin, the Irish Prime Minister, has described the inability of EU member states to reach a unified position on the Gaza crisis as a "stain" on the union [2]. The ongoing crisis has resulted in over 58,000 reported deaths since October 2023, with a disproportionate number of women and children among the casualties [1][4].
Around 90% of Gaza’s residents have been displaced internally, with most confined to just 12% of the territory due to Israeli-established military zones and evacuation orders [1]. Basic services have collapsed: hospitals are mostly non-functional, malnutrition has reached alarming levels, particularly among children and pregnant women, and the health system is near collapse due to shortages of fuel, supplies, and personnel fatigue [1][3].
International responses have been varied, with calls from over 28 countries, including France and the UK, urging Israel to cease military actions [1]. The United Nations and humanitarian agencies have pushed for increased and safe aid delivery. Israel announced humanitarian corridors and began food airdrops into Gaza on July 26, 2025, but humanitarian groups have criticized these efforts as inadequate, unsafe, and insufficient relative to needs [2].
Israeli forces continue to fire on Palestinian civilians, killing hundreds [1]. The Israeli government maintains that its actions are in response to security concerns related to Hamas, which it and many international actors designate as a terrorist organization [1][2]. However, aid agencies warn that current measures fall short of legal obligations and are harming civilians [2].
Accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity have been raised due to the scale of destruction, high civilian casualties, mass displacement, blockade of aid, and restricted access within Gaza [1][2][3]. Independent verification is limited due to ongoing conflict and access restrictions, but credible agencies like the UN and Israeli intelligence consider Palestinian health ministry casualty data reliable [1].
In a disturbing development, a far-right minister in the Israeli government, Amichay Eliyahu, has declared that Israel has no duty to alleviate hunger in Gaza and is actively seeking to expel its population [3]. His statement, comparing Israel's actions to the British not feeding the Nazis and the Americans not feeding the Japanese, displays a disregard for Palestinian lives and a gross misrepresentation of the current conflict.
Any prospect of an end to the violence remains elusive. The ongoing crisis in Gaza is no longer sustainable, and the silence of some world leaders is dangerously close to complicity. Urgent, sustained delivery of diverse food, therapeutic supplies, and essential medicines, alongside the protection of civilians, an immediate ceasefire, and the release of hostages, are essential to avert a catastrophe in Gaza.
References:
[1] "Gaza Crisis: Humanitarian Disaster Looms as UN Warns of Food Shortage." BBC News, BBC, 15 July 2025, www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-58021788. [2] "Israeli Aid Drops in Gaza Slammed as Inadequate, Unsafe." Al Jazeera, Al Jazeera, 27 July 2025, www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/27/israeli-aid-drops-in-gaza-slammed-as-inadequate-unsafe. [3] "Gaza Crisis: WHO and UN Agencies Demand Urgent Action." World Health Organization, World Health Organization, 28 July 2025, www.who.int/news/item/28-07-2025-gaza-crisis-who-and-un-agencies-demand-urgent-action. [4] "Gaza Crisis: Over 58,000 Palestinians Killed Since October 2023." Middle East Monitor, Middle East Monitor, 15 July 2025, www.middleeastmonitor.com/20250715-gaza-crisis-over-58000-palestinians-killed-since-october-2023/.
- Science and health-and-wellness should prioritize the development of specialised therapeutic food for malnourished children in Gaza, as the region faces a catastrophic humanitarian disaster with an increasing number of casualties, particularly women and children.
- Mental-health professionals and humanitarian agencies should extend support to the people of Gaza, struggling with the psychological trauma caused by the ongoing crisis, displacement, and loss of loved ones.
- Nutrition experts can provide guidance on designing and implementing sustainable agricultural practices in Gaza, to ensure food security and prevent malnutrition in the long term.
- Political leaders, during debates on war-and-conflicts, should consider the consequences of their actions in conflicts such as the Gaza crisis, where an escalation of violence can result in car-accidents, fires, or further civilian casualties.
- Crime-and-justice systems should investigate and prosecute accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, ensuring that those responsible for harming civilians are held accountable for their actions.
