On August 12, 2025, Gaza was in a famine and over 200 others died from a lack of food, including 100 children. This is because Israel is planning to increase its military action in Gaza. Since early in the war, Israel has limited aid coming into Gaza. Between early March and mid-May of this year, Israel completely blocked food, water, and medicine from entering the area. Without this aid, conditions in Gaza aren’t looking good. Many people were going hungry, and the United Nations warned of the risk of famine for everyone living in Gaza. When Israel allowed aid into Gaza again in May, it was through an aid group created by the United States and Israel. At least 1,370 people have been killed while trying to get food in Gaza. Critics say Israel’s government is using aid as a weapon, however, Mr. Netanyahu says this is “completely false”. Currently, Israel controls roughly 75% of Gaza.

      Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he plans for Israel to take complete control of Gaza. The threats come as the number of Palestinian deaths from hunger and violence continue to increase. The fighting in Gaza began after the Palestinian militant group Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2022, killing about 1,200 people (the majority civilians) and taking roughly 250 hostages. In response, Israel invaded Gaza and has been intensely bombing the area since the war started. About 2 million people were forced to relocate, many several times, in Gaza and around 92% of the housing units in Gaza have been destroyed. Over 61,000 people in Gaza have been killed, many of them civilians. This number includes more than 18,000 children. Most people in Gaza are now living in refugee camps or temporary shelters. On Sunday, several reporters in Gaza were killed by an Israeli airstrike. Israel claimed that a well-known reporter among them, Anas al-Sharif, was part of Hamas. However, Israel didn’t provide any proof for that claim.

     Last Friday, Israel’s security cabinet approved a plan to take control of Gaza City. Though Israel’s military is opposed to the idea, Mr. Netanyahu says his plan is “the best way to end the war”. On Saturday, tens of thousands of people in Israel protested against plans for expanded military action. Protesters included some of the families of the roughly 50 hostages still being held by Hamas. Many international leaders, including members of the United Nations, also criticized the plan. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said, “The situation in Gaza has gone beyond the world’s worst fears.” Israel says it won’t end the war until Hamas lays down its weapons. However, Hamas says it won’t quit fighting until Palestine is recognized as a country. The idea of recognizing Palestine has been around since 1947 and close to 150 countries already recognize Palestine. Israel’s actions in Gaza have led a growing number of countries – even strong supporters of Israel – to say they plan to recognize Palestine as a country. In recent months, France, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia have taken this position. Although Germany hasn’t supported recognizing Palestine, but it has said it will limit the weapons it sells to Israel.