DaysofPal- A leading U.S.-based think tank has accused Israel of systematically using starvation as a weapon of war in Gaza, describing it as both a tool of collective punishment and a strategy to forcibly displace the population.
In a detailed report released this week, the Arab Center Washington DC (ACW) asserted that Israel’s war on the Gaza Strip, which began on October 7, 2023, has transformed hunger into a calculated military tactic aimed at subjugating civilians and redrawing Gaza’s demographic map.
“Starvation is no longer just a byproduct of conflict. It is now a deliberate weapon of war,” the center concluded.
Engineered Famine: Children Are Dying
The report underscores the devastating human toll of the blockade on food, fuel, and humanitarian aid, now in its ninth month. According to the UN, Gaza has not received a single day’s worth of adequate aid since the war began.
Dozens of children have already died from hunger and malnutrition, the think tank notes, with thousands more at risk due to the collapse of Gaza’s health and supply systems. “Entire families are being deprived of life’s most necessities,” the report states.
A previous UN commission described Israel’s actions as amounting to genocide, specifically citing the use of starvation as a weapon. This accusation is reflected in the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) arrest warrant against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Failed Aid Alternatives and Militarized Relief
With land routes blocked, the U.S. and allies have pursued alternative delivery mechanisms. But these efforts have largely failed.
A floating pier built off Gaza’s coast—touted by the Pentagon—managed to deliver food for just one day. Meanwhile, humanitarian airdrops have reportedly caused civilian deaths due to erratic landings and malfunctioning parachutes.
To circumvent criticism of the UN, Israel and the U.S. jointly launched the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF)—a new relief agency operated not by humanitarian organizations, but by private military contractors. In its first few weeks, over 300 Palestinians were reportedly killed while trying to access GHF distribution points, many of which became targets of Israeli gunfire or airstrikes.
Aid Points as “Death Traps”
Eyewitnesses describe the GHF aid locations as “traps of death.” Survivors recount chaos, sniper fire, and stampedes during distribution events, especially in southern Gaza.
“People don’t just risk their lives—they often lose them,” said one resident who narrowly escaped an attack near Rafah.
Despite these dangers, GHF operates without oversight, and with only four distribution points across Gaza’s south. This forces displaced civilians to cross exposed, militarized areas just to access basic food supplies.
Starvation as a Tool of Forced Displacement
Analysts cited in the ACW report argue that the current aid policy is being used to encourage forced displacement. By concentrating aid in specific zones and depriving others, Israel is effectively coercing civilians to relocate—or starve.
UNICEF has echoed this concern, warning that Palestinians face a grim choice: “displacement or death.”
Statements from Israeli officials further support this conclusion. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich publicly advocated for the complete destruction of Gaza, arguing that it would motivate residents to “voluntarily migrate” elsewhere.
Growing Outcry, Minimal Accountability
While global concern continues to rise, meaningful international action remains absent. Activists—including the Freedom Flotilla and climate figure Greta Thunberg—have been blocked or detained while attempting to deliver aid.
Meanwhile, GHF continues to publish press releases promoting its work—despite its own data showing it has delivered only two days’ worth of food for the entire population.
ACW: “This Is Not a Crisis—It’s a Crime”
The Arab Center concludes: this is not a humanitarian emergency. It is a deliberate crime against humanity, facilitated by both direct action and international complicity.
“History will not only remember the massacre,” the report warns, “but also those who enabled it through silence or support.”
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