Palestinian families in Khan Younis rely on charity kitchens amid growing food crisis

KHAN YOUNIS, GAZA, PALESTINE - JULY 22, 2025: Large numbers of Palestinian families in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, lined up to receive hot meals distributed by charity kitchens on Tuesday, July 22. Despite this support, the limited meals frequently fall short of meeting the nutritional requirements of entire households, particularly for young children. With essential items such as flour, oil, legumes, and baby formula largely unavailable, many residents are now entirely reliant on humanitarian aid. Palestinian officials and human rights groups report a sharp rise in hunger-related deaths, especially among vulnerable populations including children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses. One-third of Gaza's population has not eaten for several days due to the ongoing Israeli blockade on the Palestinian enclave, the World Food Program (WFP) said. “The hunger crisis in Gaza has reached new and astonishing levels of desperation, with a third of the population not eating for multiple days in a row,” Ross Smith, WFP director of emergency preparedness and response, said in a statement. According to WFP estimates, a quarter of the population in Gaza is facing famine-like conditions, as 100,000 women and children are suffering from acute malnutrition. Since March 2, Israel has sealed all crossings into Gaza, halting the entry of food, medicine, and humanitarian aid. Gaza’s Health Ministry said Israel’s deliberate starvation policy has led to the deaths of 86 Palestinians, including 76 children, since October 2023 due to hunger and malnutrition. According to Gaza’s Government Media Office, some 650,000 children are at risk of dying from hunger and malnutrition, and around 60,000 pregnant women face serious risks due to the lack of food and basic health care. (Footage by Doaa Albaz /Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)