Israel Intensifies Airstrikes on Gaza City Amid Famine Controversy and Planned Offensive

GAZA CITY, August 23, 2025 – Israel has launched a series of fresh airstrikes on Gaza City, escalating its military operations as it prepares for a controversial ground offensive to seize the city. The intensified campaign follows Israel’s dismissal of a United Nations-backed report declaring a famine in Gaza as an “outright lie,” sparking global outrage and renewed calls for a ceasefire.

According to hospital officials and morgue reports, at least 25 Palestinians were killed in the latest strikes and shootings across Gaza, with over half of the victims sheltering in tents or seeking food from aid providers. At least 14 deaths were reported in the southern Gaza Strip, particularly in Khan Younis, where displaced families have sought refuge. In northern Gaza, five aid-seekers were killed near the Zikim crossing, a key entry point for humanitarian convoys, according to health officials at Sheikh Radwan field hospital.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a globally recognized authority on hunger crises, declared famine in Gaza City and surrounding areas on Friday, marking its first such pronouncement in the Middle East. The report, which cited starvation, acute malnutrition, and rising deaths, described the crisis as “entirely man-made” and warned that without a ceasefire and immediate aid, “avoidable deaths will increase exponentially.” The IPC estimated that 514,000 people—roughly a quarter of Gaza’s population—are facing famine conditions, with projections of further deterioration in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by September.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the famine declaration, asserting that Israel has “enabled two million tons of aid to enter the Gaza Strip, over one ton per person” since October 2023. Israel’s Foreign Ministry accused the IPC of “forging” the report by lowering its malnutrition threshold from 30% to 15% for children, a claim the IPC refuted, stating it used established standards due to limited data availability. The Israeli military body COGAT also called the report “false and biased,” alleging it ignored aid deliveries and Hamas’s exploitation of resources.

International leaders condemned the situation. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy called the famine “utterly horrifying” and a “moral outrage,” urging Israel to allow more aid into Gaza. UN Secretary-General António Guterres described the crisis as a “man-made disaster” and a “failure of humanity,” while aid agencies like Doctors Without Borders reported overwhelmed clinics as residents flee bombardments.

The airstrikes come as Israel’s security cabinet approved plans to seize Gaza City, a move condemned by global leaders and humanitarian groups as likely to exacerbate the crisis and displace hundreds of thousands. Israel’s Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that “the gates of hell will open” for Hamas if it does not accept a peace deal on Israel’s terms, signaling an imminent ground operation.

Hamas, which has controlled Gaza since 2007, criticized the planned offensive, warning it would “sacrifice” remaining hostages. Ceasefire talks mediated by the United States, Egypt, and Qatar remain stalled, with Hamas demanding an end to the war and a Palestinian state, conditions Israel rejects. U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration, calling Hamas’s stance “extortion” and supporting Israel’s military approach.

Aid agencies reported chaos at distribution points, with widespread looting by desperate civilians and Israeli troops firing warning shots near aid-seekers. The collapse of food production, healthcare, and sanitation systems, compounded by Israel’s restrictions on aid, has deepened the humanitarian crisis, according to the IPC.

As Gaza City braces for a potential Israeli takeover, residents like Ibtisam Saleh, a 50-year-old mother, described dire conditions: “We eat one meal a day, only lentils. There’s nothing else.” With famine confirmed and military operations intensifying, the international community faces mounting pressure to act before the crisis spirals further.

17GEN4.com

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