Story perspectives

MSF Accuses Israel of Engineering Gaza Famine, Infant Deaths

5/8/2026

Summary

Story summary

Doctors Without Borders says Israel deliberately engineered Gaza's malnutrition crisis.
Famine was declared in Gaza in August 2023, yet Israel blocked half of aid movements while food restrictions drove rising infant and maternal deaths, MSF reports.
More than half of pregnant women treated were malnourished, causing 90% premature births and 84% low-birth-weight infants.
Destruction left 98.5% of Gaza’s cropland damaged, over 90% of cattle killed, 60% homeless, $71 billion in damages.

History

Historical Context

After the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 661 on 6 August 1990, comprehensive sanctions crippled Iraq’s economy, cutting per-capita income to about $1,000 by 2000 and causing widespread malnutrition. International pressure led to the 1995 Oil-for-Food Programme, which later eased restrictions. The Iraqi experience is cited as a precedent for concerns over Israel’s blockade of Gaza and its impact on civilian food security.

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Story summary

Doctors Without Borders says Israel deliberately engineered Gaza's malnutrition crisis.
Famine was declared in Gaza in August 2023, yet Israel blocked half of aid movements while food restrictions drove rising infant and maternal deaths, MSF reports.
More than half of pregnant women treated were malnourished, causing 90% premature births and 84% low-birth-weight infants.
Destruction left 98.5% of Gaza’s cropland damaged, over 90% of cattle killed, 60% homeless, $71 billion in damages.

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