The Gaza Strip is experiencing an escalating humanitarian crisis, exacerbated by intensified Israeli military operations. Reports from May and June 2025 indicate significant Israeli strikes leading to numerous Palestinian casualties and extensive destruction of residential areas, particularly in Gaza City's Al-Daraj and Al-Zaytoon neighborhoods. In May 2025, Israeli operations resulted in over 100 Palestinian deaths and the destruction of several residential areas, with a specific incident in Al-Daraj causing at least eight fatalities. The intensity increased in June with strikes on western Gaza City, resulting in three deaths and two injuries. These actions have caused substantial displacement and damage to critical infrastructure.
By July 22, 2025, the Israeli Ministry of Defense reported over a thousand Palestinian deaths in Gaza since the commencement of the "Gaza for Humanity" operation. A US official corroborated these figures, noting a significant portion of casualties occurred near aid distribution points. The humanitarian situation is dire, with over 1.76 million aid packages distributed, yet more than a million Palestinians face severe conditions. UN-backed food security experts warn Gaza is on the brink of famine, having reached two of the three famine thresholds: plummeting food consumption and acute malnutrition. Widespread starvation, malnutrition, and disease are contributing to a rise in hunger-related deaths. The World Food Programme estimates that approximately 320,000 children, representing the entire population under five, are at risk of life-threatening malnourishment due to the collapse of nutrition services and lack of essential supplies. Human Rights Watch has stated that Israeli forces at new aid distribution sites have routinely opened fire on civilians, which they deem war crimes, leading to mass casualties near sites operated by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). These organizations have raised serious concerns about the effectiveness and safety of aid distribution, noting that airdropped aid is less efficient than land-based deliveries and that distribution sites have become scenes of chaos and violence.