Humanitarian sites in Gaza turn into ‘killing fields’ as Israel starves a million Palestinian children

News Network
August 18, 2025

starving.jpg

Palestinian and international organizations have once again condemned Israel's "deliberate" starvation of Palestinians in Gaza, with Doctors Without Borders (MSF) saying that humanitarian sites have become “killing fields.”

The organizations on Sunday warned that the Israeli regime is slowly killing over 2 million innocent civilians, including over a million children, by starving them. 

Gaza’s Government Media Office, in a statement, said Israel continues to block the entry of essential food supplies into the strip, with children and the sick bearing the brunt of the regime's "systematic policy of engineered starvation."

This statement, disseminated via Telegram, pointed out that the blockade has resulted in a "systematic policy of engineered starvation" affecting over 2.4 million residents, including 1.2 million children.

The Gaza media report highlighted the plight of vulnerable groups, stating, “The biggest victims of this crime are children and sick individuals.”

It added that more than 40,000 infants under one year old are experiencing severe malnutrition, while over 100,000 children and patients are at risk of death due to inadequate dietary resources.

In a related development, MSF raised concerns about the rising number of Palestinians being targeted at US-Israeli aid distribution sites.

MSF reported a threefold increase in Palestinians injured by Israeli gunfire since these sites began operating.

It described the so-called food distribution points as a “new horror” that has become "killing fields."

Dr. Mohamed Abu Mughaiseb, the deputy medical coordinator for MSF, characterized these distribution points as dangerous, remarking, “Places that are supposed to assist starving Palestinians have become killing fields,” as Israeli forces reportedly open fire on civilians gathering for aid.

Dr. Abu Mughaiseb emphasized the critical healthcare crisis: "Before October 7, 2023, Gaza’s health system was already fragile. Today, it is barely surviving, overwhelmed by overwhelming patient numbers, crumbling supply chains, deepening hunger, and targeted violence against civilians.”

MSF also highlighted the catastrophic state of Gaza’s healthcare system due to the deliberate destruction of every aspect of life, including the very institutions meant to save innocent lives.

Highlighting the urgent need for medical evacuations, Dr. Abu Mughaiseb pointed out that around 14,500 individuals require urgent specialized care unavailable in Gaza. Yet, the Israeli regime is reportedly obstructing or delaying these evacuations.

"Gaza’s healthcare system is a broken shell, barely functioning and crushed by the systematic destruction of essential services and institutions meant to save lives,” he concluded.

The situation in Gaza continues to draw international attention as humanitarian organizations and activists call for an immediate ceasefire and access to essential resources for those affected by the ongoing war.

Since the beginning of Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza 22 months ago, at least 61,944 Palestinians have been killed and 155,886 wounded, according to health officials. Nearly 1,938 people seeking food and aid have been killed since late May, when Israel started a US-backed aid distribution system through the controversial Global Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
January 23,2026

oscar.jpg

The Voice of Hind Rajab, inspired by the tragic final moments of a young Palestinian girl killed by Israeli fire in Gaza, has been nominated for an Academy Award in the Best International Feature Film category.

Directed by Tunisian filmmaker Kaouther Ben Hania, the film recounts the true story of five-year-old Hind Rajab, who lost her life in January 2024 while fleeing Israeli bombardment with her family.

The film features the real audio of Hind’s desperate call to the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, where she pleaded for help moments before the vehicle she was in was struck by 355 bullets.

The haunting narrative begins with a brief call made from the besieged Tel al-Hawa neighborhood of Gaza, where gunfire and armored vehicles drowned out every sound.

After witnessing the brutal killing of her family, she made a trembling call, her voice reduced to a whisper as she spoke of the massacre and her unbearable loneliness as the sole survivor.

Premiering at the Venice International Film Festival in September 2025, The Voice of Hind Rajab garnered widespread acclaim, receiving a record-setting 23-minute standing ovation and the Silver Lion Grand Jury Prize, the festival’s second-highest honor.

In her acceptance speech, Ben Hania dedicated the film to humanitarian workers and first responders in Gaza, emphasizing that Hind's voice symbolizes countless civilians affected by war.

She aims to give voice to victims often reduced to mere statistics, highlighting the broader suffering of civilians in war zones.

The film’s Oscar nomination underscores its powerful storytelling and ethical approach to depicting real-life tragedy, making it a crucial piece of contemporary cinema.

It serves not only as a narration of individual tragedy but also as an artistic and documentary response to the silence and censorship that often overshadow West Asian struggles and wars.

Using an innovative method she calls docufiction, Ben Hania bridges unvarnished reality and narrative structure, creating a work that is both artistically valuable and socially impactful.

Born in 1977 in Sidi Bouzid—later the epicenter of the Arab revolution—her background profoundly influenced her worldview and artistic approach.

She is a graduate of the Higher School of Audiovisual Arts of Tunis, Pantheon-Sorbonne University, and La Fémis in Paris, where her studies equipped her with the technical and theoretical tools needed to address complex subjects. 

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.