A coordinated “starvation” campaign has been launched to malign Israel internationally with claims that its actions in Gaza are causing famine and have already led to the deaths of more than one hundred Gazans. The campaign is designed to support Hamas’s push to end the war under its conditions. It is being promoted by Palestinian, Arab, and foreign media to pressure Israel. In reality, it distorts the genuine hardship on the ground, which stems primarily from the lack of distribution of food already inside Gaza and the chaotic handling of incoming aid.
Regardless of whether the picture painted by the “starvation campaign” is accurate or exaggerated, the campaign has clearly proven effective. Numerous Western governments have expressed outrage over the situation, pointed blame at Israel, and compelled it to respond to the accusations by allowing several countries to resume food airdrops, authorizing humanitarian pauses to facilitate quicker and more efficient food distribution by international organizations (including United Nations agencies), and increasing the volume of humanitarian aid entering Gaza, including the north of the Strip. These measures may alleviate suffering on the ground and reduce pressure on Israel, but the damage is done. The claim that Israel is deliberately employing starvation as a tactic is now perceived beyond the usual pro- and anti-Israel audiences in key Western nations as credible—or at least plausible. The campaign’s success benefits Hamas by deflecting responsibility for civilian suffering, allowing it both to shift attention from its obstruction of hostage deal negotiations and to use the additional aid and pauses to regroup.
Situational Assessment
The past week has seen a surge in the Gaza “starvation” campaign, with the active involvement of Palestinian, Arab, and international media. Graphic images and videos purporting to show child hunger and death have been widely circulated. Lebanese outlet Al-Mayadeen, Al Jazeera, BBC Arabic, and CNN Arabic have all echoed Hamas reports describing dire food shortages and urging international intervention. Al Jazeera and Al Araby TV correspondents in Gaza are depicting a “bleak reality,” claiming empty markets and soaring food prices. To heighten the sense of crisis, Palestinian media have released videos of hundreds of Gazans queueing for hot meals.
Simultaneously, a social media campaign under the hashtag #Gaza_is_dying_of_hunger has been launched, spreading more disturbing illustrations and photos. The Al-Azhar Islamic Research Academy in Cairo launched its own international media campaign that it said would last about two weeks and be conducted in both Arabic and English, with the goal of bringing Gaza’s situation to global attention.
On July 26, Gaza’s Hamas-run Ministry of Health posted on Facebook that 127 people, including 85 children, had died of hunger.[2] Hamas is bolstering its claims with reports from the World Food Programme (WFP) and UN agencies who have asserted that there is severe food insecurity in Gaza and that people have died of starvation. On July 21, Hamas also published a statement from Dr. Mohammed Abu Salmiya, director of Shifa Hospital in Gaza, asserting that fuel, food, and medical supplies had completely run out, bringing hospitals to the brink of closure. Abu Salmiya accused the Arab and Islamic world of indifference and called on the international community to open the crossings and deliver aid.[3]
On July 24, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas addressed the Gaza situation in a televised speech, calling the starvation of Gaza’s residents a “crime” that cannot be ignored. He urged President Trump to facilitate aid deliveries (food and medicine) via UN agencies.[6] The PLO’s Refugee Affairs Department demanded international sanctions on Israel and called for immediate steps to end the “starvation” and the war.[7]
Debunking the Starvation Narrative
On the evening of July 26, the IDF spokesperson stated that there is no starvation in Gaza and that these claims were part of a mendacious campaign by the terror organization Hamas. The spokesperson added that more than 250 aid trucks had been unloaded that week, joining hundreds more awaiting pickup by the UN and international organizations at crossings into Gaza. Around 600 trucks have already been picked up by the UN and their contents distributed throughout Gaza. In response to the starvation campaign, Israel began airdropping aid pallets with flour, sugar, and canned goods supplied by international agencies.
Palestinian social media users are increasingly blaming Hamas for the current crisis. They claim Hamas is seizing aid and reselling it in Gaza’s markets. Others allege that local residents are selling aid packages for profit.[8] One Gazan journalist accused local merchants of exploiting the situation to hike prices, placing the blame squarely on Hamas.[9]
Additional social media posts show Hamas operatives inside Gaza’s tunnels enjoying an abundance of food and boasting about their supplies.[10]
Moreover, on July 25, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) released a video featuring its spokesperson, Chapin Fay, standing beside UN aid trucks entering Gaza. It also published photos of GHF aid pallets and trucks awaiting transfer to Gaza. The organization claims the UN has refused to cooperate with it in distributing and delivering aid in Gaza.[11]
GHF Operations in Gaza
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) is a humanitarian aid organization established in February 2025 with backing from Israel and the United States. Based in the U.S. and Switzerland, it manages an aid distribution mechanism designed to prevent looting, block Hamas from taking over aid convoys, reduce Hamas control over the population, and counter claims of “starvation” in Gaza.
GHF officially began operations on May 26, 2025, at its first distribution center in Tel al-Sultan (western Rafah, near the Morag Corridor). It now runs three distribution centers: Tel al-Sultan, Khan Yunis, and Wadi Gaza (south of the Netzarim Corridor).[12] One of its goals is to distribute 300 million meals within 90 days. Days before GHF’s launch in Gaza, its director Jack Wood resigned, citing concerns over humanitarian principles.[13] UN and international aid groups have called for a boycott of GHF and are working to shut it down.[14]
On July 26, the BBC aired an interview with a former GHF employee in Gaza who claimed to have witnessed war crimes at distribution centers, including live fire against Palestinians. He described a chaotic environment and said staff were not properly trained to manage such large crowds. In response, GHF denied the claims, calling the video footage fabricated. The organization said the employee had been fired a month earlier for misconduct and that the organization had come under pressure to reinstitute the employee, raising questions about the credibility of the allegations presented in the BBC report.[15]
On July 25, GHF posted on Facebook that it had distributed more than 90 million meals since operations began. Images of Gazans receiving food packages were accompanied by messages thanking U.S. President Trump and the American people. In Arabic-language media channels directed at Gaza residents, GHF has urged people to follow guidelines, avoid coming to centers at night, and emphasized that it holds large quantities of food in stock.[16]
Hamas Warns Gaza Residents
On July 3, Hamas’s Interior Ministry posted a warning on its official Facebook page urging Gazans to avoid any direct or indirect cooperation with GHF. It claimed the centers were not designed to alleviate hardship but rather served as places of humiliation and abuse, where hundreds had been injured or killed by IDF fire or arrested. The notice threatened legal action against persons violating the injunction.[17] A separate Hamas statement from June 8 claimed that the aid centers aim to replace UNRWA and encourage Gazan emigration.[18]
A cartoon by pro-Hamas cartoonist Alaa Allagta aimed at deterring Gazans from visiting GHF centers out of fear for their lives[19]
Social Media Reactions
Palestinian users responded sarcastically to Hamas’s warning. One user, Saher al-Sabbagh of Gaza, wrote, “Feed us and we won’t go.” Another, Mustafa Akasha, replied, “If you liked this post, hit the laughing emoji.” Other users reacted with emojis expressing disapproval of Hamas’s stance against cooperating with GHF.
User Ibrahim Daghri posted on X that Hamas needs control over the incoming aid in order to resell it and fund its operations. Therefore, it is shooting live rounds at residents heading to food distribution centers. He also claimed that Hamas launched the starvation campaign specifically to derail the GHF project and maintain its grip on Gaza.[21]
Palestinian Authority Responses
Omar Awadallah, the Palestinian Authority’s Assistant Foreign Minister, told Egypt’s Al-Qahera TV on July 11, that GHF is a bogus organization with no humanitarian mandate, created solely to serve Israeli interests in Gaza. He called for it to be designated a terrorist group and prosecuted in international courts. He demanded its immediate shutdown in the Palestinian territories and said the PA would continue to expose Israeli actions using its documentation capabilities.[22]
On May 9, the PA government announced its opposition to the U.S. food distribution plan, arguing that it was designed to undermine UNRWA. It urged international pressure on Israel to open crossings into Gaza to facilitate the entry of aid.[23]
GHF’s Response to Hamas’s Warning Not to Publish Photos of Aid Deliveries
On July 21, GHF posted on X a warning issued by Hamas to journalists and online influencers not to share photos of aid deliveries that might portray Israel positively. Alongside Hamas’s warning, GHF posted a photo of its aid trucks entering Gaza.[24]
Conclusion
Over the past week, a coordinated “starvation campaign” has been underway to discredit Israel internationally and help Hamas end the war on its terms. Amplified by Palestinian, Arab, and foreign media, the campaign seeks to pressure Israel diplomatically. The campaign distorts the genuine hardship faced by the population, which in fact stems largely from failures in the distribution of food supplies and chaos surrounding the distribution of aid.
According to the IDF spokesperson, hundreds of humanitarian aid trucks entered Gaza last week and were distributed by UN agencies. Since May 2025, GHF has delivered more than 90 million meals. Hamas has tried to obstruct the organization’s work, warning residents not to cooperate and urging journalists not to share photos of aid deliveries. At the same time, IDF-released photos circulating on social media show Hamas operatives in Gaza tunnels with ample food supplies, while there have been accusations on social media that Hamas is selling aid on the black market.
Whether or not the “starvation campaign” accurately reflects conditions on the ground, it has succeeded in shaping international perceptions. Many Western governments have expressed outrage, blamed Israel, and demanded renewed airdrops, humanitarian pauses, and increased aid entry—including to northern Gaza. These steps may ease conditions and reduce pressure on Israel, but the damage to its image is done. The claim that Israel is deliberately starving Gaza now resonates among important audiences in the West—not just those on the Left and the Right who are predisposed to hostility to Israel. The success of the campaign plays into Hamas’s hands by absolving it of responsibility for civilian suffering, diverting attention from its role in the hostage deal impasse, and enabling it to rebuild under the cover of increased aid and lulls in fighting.
[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKTo72iv2BU&ab_channel=WafaAgency
[2] https://www.facebook.com/MOHGaza1994/posts/pfbid02Thyys5FDUetsdkHzUBfFxPFqMyNaS6qKeBVZ1GWMaqFpjwELD14VNCwZsrP3i8kRl?__cft__[0]=AZVIbffOuKkYRuPP39Urf0XXIQ9IWRmvg-uBz8kkWPHm8Lm6BfIKR1tmHD4N2-_WiLszbEXguJw8uvIptvcpL4AHXvMYdtGdWr2JbeSF9k-SnoJrdt0vdb5hlbjAHWfDiKz0ZWmdDZ-cseQWzlPoSu44-0k35fjCQUPu6mOw_H-3OmlGIJBS4sE_E5Mg_ca432k&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R
[3] https://x.com/ShehabAgency/status/1947162395140624846
[4] https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10162867336254770&set=a.10150096694744770&locale=ar_AR
[5] https://x.com/ShehabAgency/status/1946998727140319258
[6] https://www.wafa.ps/Pages/Details/126423
[7] https://www.maannews.net/news/2144029.html
[8] https://x.com/FM_502D/status/1946989283346174398
[9] https://x.com/FM_502D/status/1946989283346174398
[10] https://x.com/GHUBLAN/status/1948019047863394475
[11] https://x.com/GHFUpdates/status/1948847347246494075
https://twitter.com/GHFUpdates/status/1948858899747991932
[12] https://www.facebook.com/people/Gaza-Humanitarian-Foundation/61576929655481/
[13] https://www.facebook.com/people/Gaza-Humanitarian-Foundation/61576929655481/
[14] https://www.ynet.co.il/news/article/hyv6svr4xx
[15] https://www.bbc.com/news/videos/cy8k8045nx9o
[16]https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid0AtBuvp7P3uEUJ97JdeRoq2ZfVQTAtDLtWMgwozpiy5wPwj5Uzw1K7M7k3agmaX7Jl&id=61576929655481&__cft__[0]=AZUdw2-KBRURZe6IHuXbqpXKOMBAwPAjS32qWRWxwtkxE_m-EuydhPbzHgijnd9vgYroLjMOpgZ_7vc_fmx6CsZHFa6dS1DFppGxLR3SCf6tw-_3PYUftMz4CMkRUTbvzMT8DYA4DLQYKSAmytYUNfIT3txKmeMyN03VJNC1JUATvN74UkzJANTUMIB7qTen4CSwGD2dmgJPknX7f8VF8Sx6&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R
[17] https://www.facebook.com/moigovps/posts/pfbid0219nkgy6qy1DTuQYUD3LFDtXhjs6y6VZeCvJg2PZwM6acQUoN7EpJ8aFdzNg7Pu3cl?__cft__[0]=AZXybwKUaOJ1WNkHezpXHrrMO6-CxO0b1JFBPPpQIWdGLdn2VLK22wiOhFOwiqm_CrQtMJGpujNklzGK4gTDaHICkSm2bAENccZaoEaUAVLWyauV_k2TP61c0ZBTs8giL4Vc6ZI6H6eUfzo3yABAXX_590eComDBnbEpXQOJYLYucLFVFlEvb1ktEcNNy1-3qio&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R
[18] https://aawsat.com/%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A/5152156-%D8%AD%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B3-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%83%D8%B2-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%B2%D9%8A%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A3%D9%85%D9%8A%D8%B1%D9%83%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%87%D8%AF%D9%81%D9%87%D8%A7-%D8%A5%D9%86%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%A1-%D9%85%D9%87%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A3%D9%88%D9%86%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7
[19] https://www.facebook.com/alaa.allagta/posts/pfbid02jW2xnQV5mGC6qMjAqRJ2HjkhMm3wxJVAajd9Z1oVVvQ4FUqE1Gff9k9orCEWAqFLl?__cft__[0]=AZXIdLg1RCVsioB3X0VTEu8fu62s87Sx78ZEjbL6gLoSCl0zUEAuUEKLWUWRxySPZMKPjdViF1NhscqXOeI2ekjUgLiMyu1JLiZ7gwXvlJ9HicpSiXSsbEzztJEzQShIwSPp16NbvtcBIp9-NzyFWL3zuLoVFdXtBg1npKKWOx214mJJvSYBtpqrIUsmv0V0Vb4&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R
[20] https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=pfbid02eoSnS5PQsnYdz1EYEb3Cq1dZ1DXs8nYydum1NyZgNRpruyRBCyCNn11ZB29NEPwzl&id=61576929655481&__cft__[0]=AZW8fXrQGQBC3ANGwa-34yC3JWfFitlASPrPtSnbo1DIy5Ff80JN5p2lguTA3nZKKDwG4y9CQTK85JO4WnFNViQAOFnUvY-gOk28r4Koi7hc4dZh2O3Bp7qSDjJepcUkq-SyJjZZX6l6UEfJRaE9nYHjR1aPiC6Ji6C1xLoNnTH3tXCwm-Rr3LawzEqixbtd6Elem0RiYs6q3PoYD2KWmZlz&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R
[21] https://x.com/AbdelHa80870360/status/1946899003242672300
[22] https://alqaheranews.net/news/134236/%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%A4%D8%B3%D8%B3%D8%A9-%D8%BA%D8%B2%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%86%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%AF%D9%85-%D9%85%D8%AE%D8%B7%D8%B7%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84
[23] https://www.bbc.com/arabic/articles/cp85ngy1ywwo
[24] https://x.com/GHFUpdates/status/1947056647982969179
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