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A flurry of press reporting over the past week highlighted the worsening famine in Gaza. According to the World Food Program (WFP) about 20 percent of Gaza’s population are facing starvation. The WFP also said that about a third of the population is “not eating for multiple days in a row.” The New York Times quoted Dr. Ahmed al-Farra, a pediatrician working at the Nasser hospital in Gaza, as saying “There is no one in Gaza now outside the scope of famine, not even myself.” The Gaza Ministry of Health reported more 40 hunger related deaths in July, including 16 children. Right-wing Israeli activists continue to oppose providing aid to Gaza. The Times of Israel reported that some activists have physically blocked aid trucks delivering aid to Gaza. Israel’s Heritage Minister, Amichay Eliyahu, dismissed the famine in Gaza saying that it is not incumbent upon Israel to feed its enemies. Eliyahu also added that Israel should “wipe out” Gaza and make it Jewish. Controversial Israeli Minister of Finance said that Gaza is an “inseparable part of Israel” and favored annexation of the territory. Transportation Minister Miri Regev added that Israel should not be afraid of re-occupying Gaza and that there will be no end to the war.
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