Gaza is starving and outrage is spreading. Will Netanyahu listen?

Disturbing images of malnourished children in Gaza have surfaced, revealing a worsening humanitarian crisis many feared was inevitable.

For months, aid organizations warned of mass starvation as Israel restricted food and medical supplies. Now, emaciated bodies with protruding bones tell the story  one of desperation, deprivation, and global inaction.

"The images are shocking but should not be surprising," said one humanitarian coordinator. "We've been ringing the alarm for months."

The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has accused Israel of obstructing aid. “People are being starved,” the agency said, “while supermarkets a few kilometers away are fully stocked.”

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s media appearances have drawn criticism. On a recent US-Canadian podcast, he discussed his preference for Burger King over McDonald's. Critics called the remarks insensitive, given the unfolding tragedy.

“Netanyahu spent valuable time discussing fast food rather than addressing Gaza’s humanitarian crisis,” wrote a Haaretz correspondent.

Global leaders remain largely powerless to pressure Israel to allow unrestricted aid. Attempts to reinstate the UN-led distribution system have stalled.

Photos from Gaza hospitals have captured the attention of international media. One image shows an 11-month-old, Seela Barbakh, her tiny body weakened by malnutrition, held by her mother at Nasser Hospital.

The response from European countries has grown louder. More than 20 foreign ministers jointly condemned Israel’s tactics as “drip feeding of aid and inhumane killing of civilians.” Israel dismissed the statement as “disconnected from reality.”

In a notable political shift, French President Emmanuel Macron said France would recognize a Palestinian state by September. This move sparked condemnation from Israeli leaders and unease from U.S. officials.

Despite mounting pressure, Israeli policies remain unchanged. Over 100 aid organizations recently warned that restrictions are endangering both civilians and aid workers.

“Words can be ignored,” said Gershon Baskin, a former Israeli hostage negotiator. “This is still just a piece of paper.”

Many are now looking to U.S. leadership. Former President Trump has previously influenced Israeli decisions through blunt phone calls. After Israel hit Iran, he called Netanyahu, leading to a pullback. A similar call followed the bombing of Gaza’s only Catholic Church.

Still, public condemnation from Trump over Gaza’s starvation crisis has been minimal. White House spokespeople say he “wants the killing to end,” but frustration is mounting.

Efforts to secure a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas continue. Yet, hopes dimmed after U.S. and Israeli negotiators left Qatar last Thursday.

Arab leaders have proposed plans to rebuild Gaza and oppose forced displacement. The Gulf Cooperation Council labeled Israel’s actions “the crime of the century.”

Israel denies operating a humanitarian blockade. Officials argue the restrictions aim to prevent Hamas from diverting aid. COGAT, the Israeli agency managing aid, insists the military is “working to allow and facilitate” delivery.

But the UN and other on-the-ground groups dispute this claim. They report blocked routes, delayed permissions, and inadequate security for deliveries.

Right-wing Israeli coalition members have made inflammatory comments. Some suggested starving Gaza until hostages are freed. These remarks have outraged many abroad but received limited backlash within Israel.

Public sentiment inside Israel appears to be shifting. A recent poll found 71% of Israelis want the war to end.

Yet, Netanyahu’s coalition shows no sign of lifting restrictions. Reports say nearly 60,000 Palestinians have died since the war began, and conditions continue to worsen.

The media in Israel focuses mainly on the fate of hostages and troops in Gaza. But international voices are calling louder for a ceasefire and a surge in aid.

“We are heading toward terrifying death tolls,” said the director of al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City.

One UN worker described the crisis bluntly: “People in Gaza are neither dead nor alive. They are walking corpses.”

The world watches, asks questions, and debates solutions. But how many more must die before action follows?

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