Amid the devastation of the war in Gaza, an invisible yet deadly weapon has emerged: hunger. By severely limiting the entry of food, clean water, and humanitarian aid, Israel has placed the lives of millions of Palestinians at risk, raising urgent ethical questions about the conduct of war.

Through the systematic denial of basic human needs, Israel has implemented a policy best described as “engineered starvation”—a strategy marked by the deliberate destruction of essential infrastructure and food systems, aimed not only at weakening Palestinian resistance but also at exerting pressure on the broader civilian population. This approach not only violates international law, but it also undermines prospects for peace and exposes Israel to escalating political and moral consequences.

The term “engineered starvation” refers to Israel’s calculated use of hunger as a tool to erode civilian resilience and suppress resistance in Gaza. This policy is executed through the intentional targeting of vital infrastructure. Nearly half of Gaza’s agricultural land, including farms and greenhouses, has been destroyed—dramatically reducing the territory’s food production capacity. In addition, food distribution has been weaponized, forcing Palestinians to risk death in order to access basic supplies. Rather than facilitating relief, aid mechanisms have often been repurposed to drive forced displacement and psychological pressure.

Starvation, in this context, extends beyond food restrictions; it encompasses the systematic dismantling of water and sanitation infrastructure. These measures have triggered the resurgence of diseases like polio—once eradicated in Gaza. By creating a scenario in which Palestinians must choose between starvation and mortal danger, this policy targets civilians and seeks to fracture Gaza’s collective will. Yet the strategy has proven counterproductive: resistance groups have reorganized in evacuated areas, while tensions in the West Bank have deepened—raising the specter of wider regional instability.

The humanitarian consequences have been catastrophic. Roughly 1.95 million of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents now face critical, emergency, or catastrophic levels of food insecurity. Children are dying from severe malnutrition and dehydration. Reports of dramatic weight loss—up to 42% in some children—highlight the magnitude of the crisis. The destruction of water and sewage systems has unleashed preventable diseases, threatening not only the current population but also imposing long-term physical and psychological harm on future generations. Weaponized hunger has turned daily survival into an existential ordeal.

The use of starvation as a weapon is not only a flagrant breach of international law—it is also a form of strategic self-sabotage for Israel. The policy has failed to fully suppress resistance and, due to chaotic and unlawful evacuation orders, has, in some areas, strengthened militant groups. Politically, the approach has triggered growing domestic and international criticism. Polls reveal that a significant portion of the Israeli public now favors prioritizing hostage releases over military campaigns that inflict suffering on civilians. This divergence between government policy and public sentiment threatens to deepen political instability within Israel.

Diplomatically, engineered starvation has severely damaged Israel’s relationships with key neighboring states. Egypt and Jordan—long considered crucial partners—have voiced strong concerns over these tactics. This growing diplomatic estrangement threatens Israel’s broader regional agenda, including efforts to normalize relations under the Abraham Accords framework. Additionally, the continued use of starvation as a tactic has heightened the risk of escalation in the West Bank, fueling fears of a new intifada. These outcomes make clear that engineered starvation is not only morally and legally indefensible, but also strategically damaging to Israel’s long-term interests.

The international community bears significant responsibility in addressing this crisis. Some governments have supported food distribution models that function less as humanitarian relief and more as instruments of population control. Several aid organizations have refused to participate in these frameworks, citing violations of humanitarian norms. There is mounting pressure for the suspension of military aid to Israel, the imposition of targeted sanctions on responsible officials, and support for international investigations into potential war crimes. These actions could help create the necessary leverage to force a change in policy. Without decisive intervention, the crisis will continue to devastate Palestinians and destabilize the region.

Israel’s engineered starvation of Gaza has produced a humanitarian catastrophe with far-reaching implications. This strategy, which turns basic human needs into instruments of political and military coercion, is both unethical and counterproductive.

Its consequences—diplomatic isolation, internal dissent, and rising regional volatility—are already playing out. The international community, particularly the world’s major powers, must apply coordinated diplomatic and economic pressure to compel Israel to abandon this approach and adhere to international humanitarian law.

Immediate steps must include a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and the unimpeded flow of humanitarian aid. More fundamentally, the crisis calls for a shift in discourse—one that rejects the weaponization of hunger and embraces a commitment to human dignity and Palestinian self-determination. Only through such a transformation can a path toward a sustainable and just peace begin to emerge.