The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has announced the complete depletion of its food reserves in the Gaza Strip, as a seven-week-long blockade by Israel continues to choke humanitarian aid deliveries into the besieged enclave.
“Today, WFP delivered its last remaining food stocks to hot meals kitchens,” the agency warned in a statement. “These kitchens are expected to fully run out of food in the coming days.”
The ongoing blockade, enforced since March 2 following the breakdown of a two-month ceasefire, has halted the entry of critical supplies. Israel resumed its military offensive two weeks later, insisting the renewed campaign is aimed at pressuring Hamas to release the remaining hostages.
According to the UN, Israel remains legally obligated under international humanitarian law to ensure the delivery of essentials to Gaza’s 2.1 million residents. However, Israel maintains it is abiding by international norms and denies any shortage of aid.
The food crisis has escalated rapidly. At the end of March, all 25 bakeries supported by the WFP shut down due to a lack of wheat flour and cooking fuel. Food parcels previously distributed to families—providing rations for two weeks—have also been exhausted.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) says the crisis extends beyond food. Gaza is also grappling with a critical shortage of medicine, medical supplies, and fuel, leaving hospitals overwhelmed by casualties from ongoing Israeli bombardments. The lack of fuel has also crippled water production and distribution, compounding public health risks.
The WFP described the current blockade as the longest closure Gaza has ever experienced, worsening already fragile markets. Food prices have soared by up to 1,400% compared to the ceasefire period. Vulnerable groups—children under five, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and the elderly—face dire nutritional challenges.
Though hot meals kitchens have been a lifeline, they now reach only half the population and meet just 25% of daily food needs.
“The situation inside the Gaza Strip has once again reached a breaking point: people are running out of ways to cope,” the WFP stated. “Without urgent action to open borders for aid and trade to enter, WFP’s critical assistance may be forced to end.”
The agency urged all parties to prioritize civilian welfare and allow the immediate entry of humanitarian aid, warning of the collapse of fragile progress made during the previous ceasefire.
More than 116,000 tonnes of food—enough to sustain one million people for up to four months—are stockpiled at aid corridors awaiting the reopening of Gaza’s border crossings.
International condemnation of the blockade has intensified. In a rare joint statement, the UK, France, and Germany this week described the blockade as “intolerable” and demanded an end to it. In response, Israel’s foreign ministry defended its position, noting that over 25,000 lorries carrying nearly 450,000 tonnes of aid entered Gaza during the ceasefire. It insisted that Hamas has diverted aid to rebuild its military capabilities.
Hamas has consistently denied misappropriating humanitarian aid. The UN has also defended its distribution mechanisms, stating it maintains a “very good chain of custody” over all deliveries.
Meanwhile, efforts to restore a ceasefire have stalled. Last week, Hamas rejected an Israeli proposal that included disarmament in exchange for a six-week pause and the release of 10 hostages. Hamas reiterated its demand for a permanent ceasefire and a full Israeli withdrawal in return for the release of all hostages.
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