The Gaza Strip is now likely facing the worst humanitarian crisis in the 18 months since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023.3

Since 18 March 2025, Israeli forces have escalated bombardment from the air, land and sea across the Gaza Strip and expanded ground operations. This has resulted in hundreds of casualties, destruction of civilian infrastructure, and large-scale displacement.4 Between 7 October 2023 and 14 May 2025, the MoH in Gaza reported that at least 52 928 Palestinians were killed and 119 846 Palestinians injured.5

Humanitarian operations have been hindered by a combination of expanded military activity, the Israeli government’s blockade on the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial supplies since 2 March, killing of aid workers and attacks on their premises, and severe movement restrictions within Gaza.6 It is estimated that around 436 000 people (87 000 families) have been displaced yet again since the breakdown of the ceasefire.7 Attacks on tents sheltering IDPs across the Gaza Strip continue to be reported.8

According to the IPC Acute Food Insecurity and Malnutrition Analysis released on 12 May, all 2.1 million people in Gaza (100% of the population) face prolonged food shortages, with one in five people―nearly half a million―facing starvation.9 Three quarters of Gaza’s population are at “Emergency” or “Catastrophic” levels of food deprivation, the two worst levels on IPC’s five-point scale. Famine has not yet been declared, but people are starving and disease is spreading fast.10

For weeks now, Israeli authorities have blocked all supplies from entering Gaza, no matter how vital to people’s survival.11 On 25 April, the World Food Programme (WPF) reported that its food stocks in Gaza have been depleted. WFP additionally highlighted the impact of deteriorating nutrition on vulnerable groups, including children under pregnant and breastfeeding women, and the elderly, warning that the situation has again reached “a breaking point.” 12

Hundreds of truckloads with life-saving supplies are waiting to enter Gaza.13 The Health Cluster reports as of 25 April 2025, there were US$ 2.8 million in medical supplies, including medicines, kits, medical equipment and vaccinations (equivalent to 4408 metric tonnes).14 No WHO trucks crossed into Gaza since the aid blockade on 2 March 2025, while 31 waiting to cross at Al Arish (as of 16 May 2025).15 The Ministry of Health has warned of a complete collapse of healthcare services if urgent pharmaceutical supplies continue to be denied entry. 16

The deterioration of the water, sanitation and hygiene situation is also acute. Disruption to water systems— including the closure of water pipelines and destruction of critical sewage trucks—has created an unacceptably high risk of waterborne diseases.17 In the past month, over 75% of households have reported deteriorating access to water – they don’t have enough water to drink, are unable to wash their hands when needed, and often forced to choose between showering, cleaning, and cooking. 18

The health status of the population continues to deteriorate due to repeated displacements and ongoing population movement, poor or overcrowded shelter, ongoing food insecurity, and severe damage to water and sanitation infrastructure.19 More than 42 million tons of debris has been generated, containing buried human remains, unexploded ordinance (UXO), asbestos, and other hazardous substances will pose additional threats as recovery efforts begin.20

Gaza is the most dangerous place in the world to be an aid worker and the most challenging to deliver humanitarian assistance.21 On 23 March, 15 humanitarian workers were killed when they came under fire from Israeli forces.22 On 19 March, two UN guesthouses were hit by an explosion in Deir al-Balah (Gaza middle areas), killing one UNOPS team member and injuring six more UN staff, some of whom sustained life-altering injuries.23

In the West Bank, the humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly. 24 Since the start of the Israeli military operation "Iron Wall" on 21 January 2025, at least 40 000 Palestinians in the northern West Bank have been forcibly displaced. 25 Ongoing Israeli military operations, airstrikes, and closures have led to extensive damage and disruptions, including to electricity and water supplies, across the West Bank, particularly in and around the densely populated refugee camps of Jenin, Tulkarm, and Tubas.26 Humanitarian needs in the West Bank are surging amid rising economic hardship, blocked access to services, and growing displacement.27 Between 1 January 2024 and 30 March 2025, 600 Palestinian have been killed in the West Bank (including 109 children), along with 4161 injured (including 827 children).28

Between 7 October 2023 and 7 May 2025, according to Israeli forces and official Israeli sources cited in the media, more than 1612 Israelis and foreign nationals were killed, the majority on 7 October 2023 and its immediate aftermath.29 This includes 412 soldiers killed, in addition to 2643 soldiers injured, in Gaza or along the border in Israel since the beginning of the ground operation in October 2023.30 These include five soldiers killed and 59 injured since the re-escalation of hostilities on 18 March 2025. As of 7 May, it is estimated that 59 Israelis and foreign nationals remain captive in Gaza, including hostages who have been declared dead and whose bodies are being withheld.31

More broadly, oPt has endured a protracted cycle of conflict, hunger and despair for over five decades. In 2023, this cycle reached unprecedented new peaks as tensions escalated in the occupied Gaza Strip and the West Bank on 7 October, resulting in civilian fatalities, widespread destruction, massive displacement, rising food prices and a declining currency. 32 The unprecedented impact of the current war on Gaza demands a transformative shift in addressing mounting immediate needs, revaluating long-term systemic challenges to relief efforts, and confronting the root causes of the conflict by ending the occupation and upholding international law.33