In the heat of the Epstein drama, Trump avoids scrutiny over his part in the escalating food scarcity in Gaza.
The small coastal enclave of Gaza, home to over 2 million people, is currently experiencing a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions. The situation is marked by widespread devastation, displacement, and a severe hunger crisis.
Devastating Impact on the Population
According to reports, approximately 86-87% of the Gaza Strip is under Israeli military control, with over 737,000 people displaced since the breakdown of the ceasefire in March 2025. The population is confined to a small fraction of the territory, living in cramped and unsanitary conditions.
The conflict has resulted in a staggering death toll. As of July 15, 2025, at least 58,380 Palestinians have been reported killed, and more than 139,000 injured. The infrastructure is severely damaged, with most buildings destroyed and hospitals closed.
The crisis has taken a particular toll on children and the elderly. Malnutrition among children under five has more than doubled from March to June, due to the prolonged siege. The Gaza Ministry of Health reported 113 hunger-related deaths since the conflict began.
The Role of the United States
The United States is facing criticism for its stance on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The U.S. State Department has denied that a famine is occurring or that humanitarian aid is being weaponized. Instead, they blame Hamas for the crisis.
However, some U.S. lawmakers, especially Democrats, have joined international calls to address the crisis and criticize Israel's actions. Despite claims of aid being available, the delivery and distribution of humanitarian assistance are hindered by the conflict and access restrictions.
Critics argue that a joint U.S.-Israeli humanitarian aid initiative sends far too little food into Gaza, and there have been multiple reports of Palestinians being killed as they desperately seek food.
International Response and Concerns
The World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus described the situation in Gaza as "mass starvation." The UN says most casualties occurred among people making their way to aid sites run by the US- and Israel-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).
The Israeli offensive was launched after attacks on Israel killed 1,200 people and took 250 hostages, as of the beginning of the month, 49 hostages are still captive. The political debate in the U.S. on the Gaza issue is fraught and often leads to extreme responses.
The situation in Gaza raises questions about what level of humanitarian desolation the White House is prepared to accept before it leans harder on Netanyahu. The political crisis in Washington is centered around the Jeffrey Epstein imbroglio within the Trump administration, which has diverted attention from the crisis in Gaza.
However, the crisis in Gaza is a result of the failure of politics and diplomacy in a world where international institutions are fracturing or losing influence. The political crisis in Washington and the Epstein scandal may complicate the U.S.'s ability to take a more active role in resolving the crisis.
[1] United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). (2025). Gaza Crisis: Overview and Key Figures. [online] Available at: https://www.ochaopt.org/content/gaza-crisis-overview-and-key-figures-1 [Accessed 15 July 2025].
[2] Middle East Eye. (2025). Gaza crisis: Children 'dying every day' as UN warns of 'mass starvation' in Strip. [online] Available at: https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/gaza-crisis-children-dying-every-day-un-warns-mass-starvation-strip [Accessed 15 July 2025].
[3] The Guardian. (2025). US denies responsibility for Gaza famine as UN warns of 'mass starvation'. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/14/us-denies-responsibility-for-gaza-famine-as-un-warns-of-mass-starvation [Accessed 15 July 2025].
[4] Al Jazeera. (2025). US lawmakers call for more action on Gaza crisis. [online] Available at: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/7/13/us-lawmakers-call-for-more-action-on-gaza-crisis [Accessed 15 July 2025].
- The staggering humanitarian crisis in Gaza, marked by widespread devastation, displacement, and a severe hunger crisis, has led the World Health Organization Director-General to describe the situation as "mass starvation."
- The political debate in the U.S. on the Gaza crisis is fraught, with critics arguing that the joint U.S.-Israeli humanitarian aid initiative sends far too little food into Gaza, and there have been multiple reports of Palestinians being killed as they desperately seek food.
- The crisis in Gaza has taken a particular toll on children and the elderly, with malnutrition among children under five more than doubling from March to June due to the prolonged siege, resulting in 113 hunger-related deaths since the conflict began.
- The United States is facing criticism for its stance on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with some U.S. lawmakers joining international calls to address the crisis and criticize Israel's actions, despite claims of aid being available.
- The situation in Gaza raises questions about what level of humanitarian desolation the White House is prepared to accept before it leans harder on Netanyahu, as the political crisis in Washington is centered around the Jeffrey Epstein imbroglio within the Trump administration, which has diverted attention from the crisis in Gaza. This crisis is a result of the failure of politics and diplomacy in a world where international institutions are fracturing or losing influence.
