Shocked by Starvation? Why Hamas Bears the Blame While IL Floods the Strip with Supplies

As someone who has watched global crises from famine-struck regions in Africa to war-torn areas in Ukraine, the images emerging from Gaza leave me profoundly disturbed. In July 2025, nearly two years into this devastating conflict, the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza demands our outrage and urgent action. But as we grapple with this horror, it's crucial to ask: Who is truly responsible for perpetuating this suffering? A deeper look, grounded in verifiable facts, points not to external blockades, but to the internal machinations of Hamas, the group that claims to lead Gaza's people yet actively undermines life-saving aid. Meanwhile, Israel—despite being locked in an existential fight—has gone to extraordinary lengths to facilitate aid, setting a historical precedent that deserves recognition, even from skeptics.

Let's confront the agony head-on. The United Nations and aid groups have highlighted acute food insecurity affecting millions in Gaza, with children particularly vulnerable. It's a man-made tragedy that evokes the worst chapters of human conflict, where innocents pay the price for decisions made by those in power. As a neutral observer, I've always believed that empathy must guide our reporting, but so must truth. And the truth here is that this crisis isn't born from a lack of incoming aid, but from deliberate obstruction by Hamas, whose actions reveal a chilling detachment from their own civilians' plight.

2,500 tons of baby food vanished under Hamas regime

Consider the scale of Israel's efforts to get help into Gaza, even amid ongoing hostilities. Since May 19, 2025, aid has been entering through two primary channels: distribution sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), which delivers weekly food packages directly to families, and complementary supplies coordinated with the UN, international organizations, and donor countries. These include raw materials for local bakeries and communal kitchens. In recent weeks alone, close to 4,500 trucks have crossed into the Strip, loaded with essentials like flour for baking and an impressive 2,500 tons of baby food and high-calorie nutritional supplements designed specifically for children at risk of malnutrition. These aren't token gestures; they represent a proactive commitment to humanitarian principles in the heat of war. Historically, no belligerent has ever supplied food and water to enemy civilians in territory still controlled by the adversary—yet Israel is doing just that, challenging the narrative of indifference that often dominates British media coverage. But here's where the story turns infuriating: Much of this aid isn't reaching those who need it because of bottlenecks on the Gazan side. Over the past month, there's been a sharp decline in collection by international aid organizations, leaving approximately 950 trucks' worth of supplies sitting undistributed at the Kerem Shalom and Zikim crossings. Footage from these sites shows endless rows of loaded vehicles, waiting in vain while GHF persists with daily distributions. Israel has repeatedly urged the UN and others to pick up and deliver these resources, but months of inaction have created a logjam. This isn't about restricted access from Israel; it's about failures in the internal chain, exacerbated by Hamas's interference. Empirical assessments indicate an overabundance of calories entering Gaza—enough to sustain the entire population if properly allocated. If these calories aren't getting to everyone, it's a direct consequence of Hamas's lingering grip on the territory, not Israeli policy.

"I ate five bowls of rice today" Hamas accuses the world of starvation while their members feast in secrecy

The evidence of Hamas's culpability is stark and deeply troubling. Recently, the Israeli Defense Forces released footage from inside Hamas tunnels, showing militants indulging in lavish meals—piles of fruits, rice, and meat—while one boasts, "I ate five bowls of rice today." This food wasn't from humanitarian shipments; it was hoarded by fighters hiding underground, far removed from the queues of desperate civilians above. As IDF spokesperson Avichay Adraee poignantly told Gazans, "These are not heroes; they are thieves who care only for themselves at your expense." Hamas accuses the world of starvation while their members feast in secrecy, using propaganda to mask their self-serving agenda.

Worse still, Hamas actively sabotages aid operations. Just on July 23, 2025, the IDF detected a rocket launch from Khan Younis toward aid distribution compounds in Rafah, landing a mere 250 meters from a key site near the Murag corridor. Remarkably, the center opened today anyway, distributing tens of thousands of weekly food packages to families. This is no isolated incident—it's part of a systematic campaign by Hamas and allied terror groups to derail initiatives like the American-backed GHF, which threatens their control over resources. By attacking these sites, they not only endanger lives but also fuel the very chaos they blame on others, all to pressure Israel in negotiations and dismantle effective aid mechanisms.

For British readers, who've been bombarded with stories framing Israel as the villain, this perspective might feel counterintuitive. But consider the broader context: This all stems from Hamas's brutal October 7, 2023, attack, which killed 1,200 Israelis and took over 250 hostages. Any honest discussion of Gaza's hunger must link it to that cause—how can we decry starving children without recalling the half-pita rations doled out to hostages, or the barbarism inflicted on Israeli communities? Selective outrage ignores other global horrors, like the killings of Druze in Syria, and overlooks Gaza's border with Egypt, which could serve as an additional lifeline if opened wider.

War's collateral damage is always heartbreaking, especially when it affects innocents, including children. No one disputes that. But portraying this as intentional deprivation ignores the facts of Israel's unprecedented aid facilitation. Hamas, by hoarding, attacking, and propagandizing, is the true architect of Gaza's suffering. As we express our shock and demand change, let's direct our calls for accountability where they belong: to Hamas. Recognizing Israel's efforts isn't about bias—it's about fairness, and it could pave the way for real humanitarian breakthroughs in this tormented region.