Tel Aviv Protesters Condemn Gaza Food Crisis, Demand End to Starvation Policy
On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Israeli activists marched from HaBima Square to the Israeli Defence Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv, protesting the severe food shortages and forced displacement of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. Carrying placards with messages like “Starvation is a War Crime; We are all responsible, it is being done in our name,” and sacks of flour, the demonstrators denounced Israel’s ongoing blockade, which has plunged Gaza into a humanitarian crisis.
The protest reflects growing global outrage over famine-like conditions in Gaza, where malnutrition and starvation are claiming lives, particularly among vulnerable groups.
The United Nations in June 2025 condemned Israel’s alleged “weaponisation of food” in Gaza, labeling it a war crime and urging immediate action to address the crisis. Humanitarian organizations report that 900,000 children in Gaza are suffering from hunger, with 70,000 reaching critical malnutrition stages.
Medical sources confirmed that 21 children died within 72 hours from severe hunger and malnutrition, with fatalities reported at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah and Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis, including two newborns and a child.
The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) noted that malnutrition rates among children under five doubled between March and June 2025, with over 5,500 diagnosed with severe acute malnutrition.
Hospitals, operating at over 250% capacity, are overwhelmed, lacking beds, basic supplies, and medicines.
Medical professionals, some suffering from malnutrition themselves, report 17,000 children with acute malnutrition, exhibiting symptoms like memory loss and cognitive dysfunction. An estimated 60,000 pregnant women face severe nutritional deficiencies, exacerbating health risks. The abduction of Dr. Marwan Al-Hams, a leading physician, has further alarmed Gaza’s medical community, highlighting threats to healthcare workers.
On the same day as the Tel Aviv protest, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 45 Palestinians, including five civilians – three children – near the Ali Ibn Abi Talib Mosque in Gaza City’s Zeitoun neighborhood, and 13 others in artillery attacks on displaced families’ tents at Al-Shati refugee camp.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that over 2.1 million people, crammed into just 12% of Gaza’s territory, face starvation due to restricted access to food, clean water, and shelter. Aid convoys are reportedly stalled at the border, with enough food to feed Gaza for three months unable to enter due to Israeli restrictions.
International and Local Calls for Action
The Council of the League of Arab States has demanded urgent international intervention to halt Israeli military operations and ensure unimpeded aid delivery, tasking Algeria and Somalia, Arab non-permanent UN Security Council members, with pushing for an emergency resolution.
Palestinian professional unions, including the Bar Association, Journalists Association, Doctors Association, and Teachers Association, issued a joint appeal urging global counterparts to condemn Israel’s “systematic starvation policy” and hold it accountable under international humanitarian law.
The Palestinian Medical Relief Society warned that Gaza faces imminent widespread fatalities from famine, particularly among children, pregnant women, and the elderly. The controversial US-based Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), led by Johnnie Moore, has drawn criticism for its role in aid distribution, with accusations of creating “Hunger Games-style” conditions by limiting access and increasing risks for civilians seeking food.
The Tel Aviv protest echoes sentiments on X, where users have expressed outrage over Gaza’s plight. One post stated, “Hundreds of Israelis are now marching in the center of Tel Aviv against the starvation of Gaza at the hands of the Israeli government. Some are holding sacks of flour.” Another highlighted the blockade’s impact: “Israel has maintained a blockade on Gaza for 8 months now, restricting the entry of food and other essential supplies.” These reflect growing public and international pressure to address the crisis.
As Gaza’s humanitarian conditions deteriorate, the Tel Aviv protesters and global advocates are calling for an end to the blockade and accountability for war crimes.
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