Gaza Suffocates from Hunger and Fire… and the West Bank Is Being Annexed by Force: A Continuing Nakba Amid Disgraceful Global Silence

Date: July 23, 2025

Press Release
Gaza Suffocates from Hunger and Fire… and the West Bank Is Being Annexed by Force: A Continuing Nakba Amid Disgraceful Global Silence

The International Commission to Support Palestinian People’s Rights (ICSPR) expresses its deep concern and outrage over the catastrophic and rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, amid the ongoing genocidal war, comprehensive Israeli aggression, suffocating blockade, deliberate starvation, and systematic targeting of civilians, medical personnel, and journalists — all under the watch of a silent and incapable international community, complicit through inaction in the ongoing crimes against Gaza’s population.

Every day that Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza continues, the humanitarian tragedy worsens. What is unfolding represents the most atrocious forms of genocide and starvation, with direct targeting of civilians, destruction of homes, civilian infrastructure, public services, health and agricultural facilities, and water sources. For 143 consecutive days, Israel has imposed a blockade that has completely prevented the entry of humanitarian aid, fuel, medical supplies, baby formula, nutritional supplements, and medicine. As a result, Gaza is now experiencing a terrifying and widespread famine. Indicators show that the entire population is suffering from Phase 5 (Catastrophic Hunger) and Phase 4 (Emergency Hunger) levels of food insecurity. One-third of the population has gone without food for consecutive days, and 90% of families have no access to safe drinking water.

One million children suffer from malnutrition-related illnesses. In recent days, 83 children and over 650 patients have died from hunger and malnutrition. International organizations and medical teams have reported thousands of people arriving in states of unconsciousness due to severe hunger. Skin, intestinal, and respiratory diseases caused by hunger, poor sanitation, and water contamination are spreading among most residents. The Ministry of Health also reported 45 cases of acute flaccid paralysis, raising fears of a polio outbreak.

This famine, coupled with disease outbreaks and a surge in injuries, is unfolding alongside growing fears of a total collapse of the healthcare system. Six major medical facilities have ceased operations, while others are on the verge of complete paralysis due to fuel and medical supply shortages.

In the past 24 hours, 10 civilians died from hunger, raising the total number of famine-related deaths to 111, most of them children, the elderly, and chronically ill patients. During the same period, 113 civilians were killed, including 34 starving individuals targeted by Israeli forces while seeking food, bringing the total number of “aid martyrs” to 1,060 and over 7,207 wounded. Since October 7, 2023, the total death toll has reached 59,219, with 143,045 wounded, including over 32,000 who have lost limbs or become permanently disabled. Thousands of bodies remain under rubble or in streets inaccessible due to ongoing attacks, fuel shortages, and direct targeting of medical and civil defense teams.

ICSPR strongly condemns the continued targeting of journalists, including today’s killing of journalist Walaa Al-Jaabari and her children in a direct strike on their home, raising the number of journalist martyrs to 231. This is part of a deliberate Israeli policy to eliminate witnesses and silence media coverage of the genocide.

ICSPR also strongly condemns the Israeli Knesset’s vote in favor of a bill to impose so-called “Israeli sovereignty” over the occupied West Bank — a colonial move that constitutes a dangerous escalation, blatant disregard for United Nations resolutions, a direct challenge to the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, and a deliberate blow to the two-state solution. This decision is part of a broader campaign of racist laws, including the Israeli Nation-State Law and the Knesset’s recent rejection of a Palestinian state, which together reveal the true intention to legitimize and expand colonial settlements, seize land, and fully Judaize the West Bank.

The International Commission “ICSPR” holds the Israeli occupation fully responsible for these crimes and warns against continued international inaction in declaring Gaza a famine-stricken area and in taking urgent steps to prevent further catastrophic consequences. All international reports confirm that Gaza has entered a full famine, as defined by UN classifications. The Israeli occupation continues to prevent the entry of humanitarian aid for the fifth consecutive month, in clear violation of the Geneva Conventions — particularly Article 55 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, which obligates the occupying power to ensure the supply of food and medicine to the civilian population.

ICSPR also holds Israel and its partners — including states and companies — fully accountable for these unprecedented crimes against humanity. The Commission expresses deep concern over recent field testimonies and confessions by former security personnel exposing inhumane practices and grave violations in aid distribution centers in Gaza operated by the U.S.-backed “Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).”

What is happening in Gaza constitutes a full-fledged genocide under the 1948 Genocide Convention and represents war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute and the Geneva Conventions.

ICSPR urges all countries, organizations, and people of conscience to fulfill their humanitarian, moral, and legal responsibilities and to urgently act to save over two million people facing mass extermination — as famine kills in silence, and justice still awaits those who will stand up for it.

The International Commission “ICSPR” calls on the international community, the United Nations, States Parties to the Geneva Conventions and the Genocide Convention, regional and international organizations, and freedom-loving people around the world to take immediate action to stop the genocidal war and aggression on Gaza, lift the Israeli blockade unconditionally, open all crossings for the entry of fuel and humanitarian and medical aid, provide international protection for Palestinian civilians, impose sanctions on the occupying state, and prosecute its leaders, soldiers, and collaborators in international courts. The world must take real and serious steps to confront Israeli colonial and racist policies and support the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people to obtain their national rights, foremost among them the right to self-determination, independence, and the return of refugees.