"It is better to die than starve to death": Gazans face hunger crisis amid Israel-Hamas war

The ongoing war between Israel and Hamas continues on the Gaza Strip. During this time, common people are having to work hard to stay alive. On one hand they have to take shelter in safe places, while on the other hand they are also facing starvation. When Bakr al-Nazi learns that the food he prepares daily for charity in the Gaza Strip will not be enough to feed children, his heart sinks. Nazis say that in Rafah, a city on the southern edge of Gaza, thousands of people stand in line for hours to eat a handful of Taqiyeh.

According to the UN Hunger Monitoring System (IPC), as of early December, more than 2 million Gazans were already facing severe hunger... with more than 378,000 people experiencing "catastrophic hunger". The IPC report on Thursday said the risk of famine is "increasing every day" and warned that within weeks the entire population could face "severe food insecurity" or worse.

Humanitarian aid is reaching only the besieged coastal area, which is being attacked by the Israeli army since October 7. The sustained ground and air campaign aimed at destroying Hamas was triggered by the Islamist group's attacks on Israel, which have killed some 1,140 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally of Israeli figures. More than 20,200 people, mostly women and children, have been killed in Israeli retaliation, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run region.

"A can of beans has increased from one shekel ($0.28) to six shekels," the Nazi said. Before the war people were poor, even those who worked barely had enough to feed their children. There was money. Now how they are facing this situation can be imagined. I am afraid that people will die of hunger....".

In the morning, 36-year-old Salam Haider was standing in a queue outside the food centre. "They told me it's too early, but I want to make sure I get something," said the mother of three young children. My son cries when he sees another child holding a piece of bread. He Tried to steal sweets from a kid, I had to tell him that's very bad."