Think Tank: Israel Using Starvation as Weapon of War in Gaza, Cover for Forced Displacement
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.'
Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=65174
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Days of Palestine
5 hours ago
- Days of Palestine
Haaretz: Israeli Army Commanders Gave Direct Orders to Shoot Palestinians Near Aid Centers in Gaza
DaysofPal- In a shocking report that has sparked widespread controversy, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz revealed that senior commanders in the Israeli army issued direct orders to their soldiers to open fire on Palestinian civilians approaching humanitarian aid distribution centers in the Gaza Strip, effectively turning relief points into sites of mass killings. According to testimonies from soldiers currently serving in Gaza, the orders were explicit: fire on anyone approaching aid areas, regardless of whether they posed a threat or were unarmed. The soldiers stressed that this was implemented as a field policy, not as isolated or exceptional behavior. Haaretz reported that Israeli forces used medium and heavy weaponry, including machine guns, armored vehicles, and drones, in operations where the gunfire resembled a military response to an armed attack, even though the targets were starving civilians. One soldier was quoted saying, 'We were shooting at hungry people as if we were repelling an armed assault, while they were merely trying to get food.' The report added that many of the shootings were conducted at very close range, targeting unarmed individuals, including women and the elderly. According to the newspaper, aid distribution sites have become 'death traps,' as over 2.2 million Palestinians in Gaza struggle under catastrophic humanitarian conditions, where the pursuit of food may cost one's life. This revelation comes amid mounting international pressure on the Israeli occupation over its ongoing violations in Gaza, particularly the alleged use of starvation as a weapon of war—a practice the United Nations has described as possibly rising to the level of crimes against humanity. While the Israeli occupation has previously justified some incidents as 'warning shots at suspected threats,' the Haaretz report undermines that narrative and points instead to a systematic policy of violent deterrence rather than civilian protection. The report is expected to provoke strong reactions from human rights organizations and international courts, which have renewed calls for transparent and independent investigations to hold accountable those responsible for these violations, and to prevent the militarization of humanitarian aid and its transformation into a tool of repression and mass killing. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
5 hours ago
- Days of Palestine
EU Condemns Humanitarian Catastrophe in Gaza, Urges Immediate Entry of Aid
DaysofPal-At the conclusion of their summit held in Brussels, European Union leaders issued a strongly worded statement denouncing the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. The statement warned of an imminent famine threatening millions of civilians and called for an immediate and full lifting of the Israeli blockade. The EU declared its 'deep concern over the severe deterioration of humanitarian conditions in Gaza,' highlighting the growing risk of famine and the mounting civilian death toll, including women and children. The European leaders urged an immediate and comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza as a first step to halt the bloodshed. They emphasized that ongoing military operations were exacerbating civilian suffering and posed a grave violation of international humanitarian law. The statement warned that Gaza was 'on the brink of famine,' noting that more than 2.2 million Palestinians are living under conditions of 'acute food insecurity' due to severe restrictions on the entry of essential goods and humanitarian aid. 'Each day of delay in delivering food, water, and medicine deepens the crisis and threatens a total collapse of humanitarian infrastructure in the Strip,' the leaders said. The EU called on the Israeli occupation to lift the blockade immediately and completely, allowing humanitarian aid through all land and sea crossings, and granting UN agencies and humanitarian organizations free and safe access to carry out their work. The statement also noted that alternative attempts by some countries to deliver aid—such as maritime routes or airdrops—have been inadequate and, in some cases, resulted in civilian casualties due to technical failures and poor coordination. In a rare diplomatic move, EU leaders revealed they had discussed the possibility of suspending the EU-Israel Association Agreement, citing Article 2, which requires both parties to respect human rights as a core condition of the agreement. The European Council announced it would conduct a formal review in July 2025 to assess Israel's compliance with these principles, potentially paving the way for economic or diplomatic measures. The EU also condemned the targeting of civilians, hospitals, schools, and UN facilities in Gaza, stating that the use of excessive force in civilian areas constitutes a clear violation of international law. The statement stressed that using food as a tool of political pressure against a besieged civilian population is a war crime, and called for independent international investigations to hold perpetrators accountable. This statement comes amid growing global criticism of Israeli policies in Gaza, with increasing accusations of using starvation as a weapon of war and a means of forced displacement—acts described in UN reports as amounting to genocide. The EU's bold stance is expected to draw sharp reactions from the Israeli occupation, especially as the bloc considers taking tangible economic and diplomatic actions in the coming weeks. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
2 days ago
- Days of Palestine
Think Tank: Israel Using Starvation as Weapon of War in Gaza, Cover for Forced Displacement
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.' Shortlink for this post:
