International Frustration Grows as Gaza Starvation Reported

posted on: Jul 30, 2025

By Jake Harris / Arab America Contributing Writer

International Aid groups are quite unanimous in stating that the food situation in Gaza has reached a dire state. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification has three thresholds to reach in order for a food crisis to be considered a famine. The IPC has confirmed two of those have been breached. They report that 39 percent of the population are going days at a time without eating. Acute Malnutrition, the second indicator, is at 16.5 percent in children under five. Cindy McCain, Executive Director of the World Food Programme, stated that food needs to be urgently let into Gaza unobstructed.

International Backlash

The latest images out of Gaza showing extreme malnourishment have appalled many across the globe. Countries traditionally seen as strong allies of Israel are acknowledging the indefensibility of the latest developments. 

France recently recognized the State of Palestine, drawing enormous criticism from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. France’s announcement was condemned by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio as “reckless”. 

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer did not go as far as to recognize a Palestinian State yet. On July 29th, 2025, the UK stated that it would recognize a Palestinian State in September unless Israel takes steps to get to a ceasefire and “take steps to end the appalling situation in Gaza”. Starmer called the situation “indefensible”. Former Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn is launching a new left-wing political party in Britain. One of the major tenets is ending all offensive arms sales from the UK to Israel. Upon the launch of the still unnamed party’s website, there were 250,000 requests for membership. 

President Donald Trump split with Netanyahu, admitting to reporters that there is starvation going on. Netanyahu continues to claim that there is no starvation in Gaza.

Dutch Travel Ban

The Netherlands has taken notably bold actions of condemnation. Recently, the Dutch have imposed a travel ban on far-right Israeli national security minister Ben Gvir and Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich. The Dutch explanation for the ban was inciting violence against Palestinians in the West Bank. Smotrich stated in May 2025 that Gaza will be “destroyed” and the people living there will be so hopeless that they will feel no choice but to migrate elsewhere.  Ben Gvir is also known for a laundry list of extreme statements.  In 2007, he was convicted in Israel of incitement to racism and supporting a terrorist organization. Gvir is now part of Netanyahu’s coalition government. Both figures banned from the Netherlands support the Israeli settlement of the Gaza Strip after the war, similar to the policy already implemented in the West Bank. 

American Public Sentiment

There is a palpable feeling of a shifting attitude in the West. Mainstream celebrities such as Ariana Grande and Jenna Ortega have recently spoken out on social media about the crisis and demanded that aid be let in uninhibited. 

A new Gallup poll conducted between July 7th and 21st,  2025, shows only 32 percent approval among Americans for Israel’s military operation in Gaza. There remains a massive political divide between Democrats and Republicans on the issue. 71 percent of Republicans continue to support Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, while only 8 percent of Democrats do. There is a considerable nosedive in support for the campaign among Democrats. In November 2023, a month after the October 7th attacks, the approval for Israeli military operations stood at 36 percent. For the first time since 1997, the Gallup poll indicates that Netanyahu’s disapproval rating has hit above 50 percent amongst Americans, regardless of political party affiliation. 

Congress Remains Steadfast

Congress remains nearly unanimously opposed to any cuts in military aid to Israel. A bill introduced by Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene proposed 500 billion in cuts to Israel’s missile defense infrastructure. The House of Representatives voted 422-6 against the bill.  Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has been outspoken in favor of Palestine, voted against the bill, and her reasoning for doing so is that the bill does not end offensive weapons shipments and only goes after defensive Iron Dome capabilities. Critics of AOC’s explanation argue that lesser defensive capabilities would force Netanyahu to shift course on his policies more towards some kind of a compromise. 

Public opinion across the world remains extremely divided on Gaza. Gaza, being on the verge of famine, seems to have brought forward a red line for many. In the coming weeks and months, it will be evident whether or not Israel noticeably changes course to appease the growing list of critics in the international community.

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