The World Food Programme on Friday said months of Israeli blockades have entirely depleted food stocks in Gaza. The WFP warned that thousands of Palestinians could die of starvation as a result of the policy.

Jon Shelton with AFP, Reuters, April 25, 2025

The UN World Food Programme on Friday said it had “delivered its last remaining food stocks to hot-meals kitchens in the Gaza Strip” after being unable to replenish supplies in the enclave during a seven-week blockade by Israel.

“These kitchens,” according to the WFP, “are expected to fully run out of food in the coming days.”

The UN humanitarian agency OCHA called the situation in Gaza “probably the worst” it has been in the 18 months since Israel began its military campaign against Hamas, which many nations define as a terrorist outfit. The group perpetrated the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel that killed nearly 1,200 people and saw another 250 taken hostage.

Food shortages have been common since the war in Gaza began, with aid deliveries regularly blocked. Most recently, Israel blocked deliveries after a stalemate over ceasefire negotiations that began in January.

Israel also resumed bombing the strip on March 18, before launching a renewed ground offensive.

More than 2,000 Palestinians have been reportedly killed since then. On Friday, the Gaza Health Ministry, which is run by Hamas, said at least 78 Palestinians had been killed over the past 24 hours.

According to the Health Ministry, the current death toll in Gaza has climbed to 51,439.