In Gaza, hunger isn’t just a side effect of war — it’s been calculated.
With farming wiped out, fishing banned, and civilians trapped inside the territory, nearly every bite of food in Gaza must come from outside. But that supply is tightly controlled by Israel — and according to data from Israel’s own agencies, it has allowed only a fraction of what’s needed to enter.
A Decades-Old Policy of Control
Israel has managed Gaza’s food supply for years. Back in 2006, a senior advisor to the Israeli prime minister said the goal was to “put the Palestinians on a diet, but not to make them die of hunger.” This wasn’t just a statement — documents later revealed that Israel calculated exactly how many calories Gazans needed to survive, around 2,279 per person per day, or about 1.8 kg of food.
Even humanitarian groups today are requesting less than that — about 1 kg per person daily, or 62,000 tonnes a month for Gaza’s 2.1 million residents.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
From March to June, Israel allowed in just 56,000 tonnes of food — less than 25% of what’s needed. Even if all aid was distributed perfectly — which it wasn’t — it still wouldn’t have been enough.
In March and April, Gaza was under complete siege. No food entered. After global pressure mounted in May, including from Donald Trump urging that “every ounce of food” reach children, Israel allowed in a small increase. But it wasn’t enough to stop the descent into famine — only to slow it.
Israel’s Justifications vs. Reality
Israeli officials have repeatedly blamed aid blockages on Hamas or the UN. They’ve pointed to pallets of aid “awaiting pickup” and chaotic scenes during food distributions to suggest the problem isn’t on their side.
But international experts — including the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Classification (IPC) — say otherwise. They call the situation a “worst-case scenario” and clearly state that Israel’s restrictions are the main reason food isn’t reaching those in need.
Airdrops: Too Little, Too Risky
In place of efficient truck deliveries, airdrops have been used to send food into Gaza. These missions are expensive, limited, and dangerous. At least 17 people have died during these drops — some drowned trying to retrieve packages, others were crushed when they fell.
Despite these efforts, airdrops over 21 months delivered only four days’ worth of food — at a cost of tens of millions of dollars. That same money could have fed thousands if used for truck shipments.
Is This Genocide?
Two Israeli human rights organizations now say yes. B’Tselem and others argue that starvation is being used intentionally, not accidentally. Their reports claim there is an “official and openly declared policy” to starve the population — and the facts support that claim.
Israel knows the numbers. It knows how much food is needed. And right now, it’s not letting that food through. The math is simple — and devastating.
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