 "Palestinian children gather to receive food from a charity kitchen, amid a hunger crisis, in Gaza City, July 22, 2025. File Image/Reuters")
Amid the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, India has called for an uninterrupted flow of aid into the besieged territory at the United Nations. India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Harish P. reiterated India’s support for the two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict.
He also pointed out how human suffering in Gaza continued “unabataed”.
“Our efforts must now focus on how to bring about a two-state solution through purposeful dialogue and diplomacy, and bringing the parties to the conflict to engage directly with each other…The humanitarian assistance pillar demands our immediate attention and action. The human suffering in Gaza continues unabated,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
“Tens of thousands have been killed, and many more injured. Several medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed. Children have been deprived of schooling for more than 20 months. Humanitarian aid needs to flow without impediments…Palestinians in Gaza must have access to food, fuel and other basic necessities without hindrance. Humanitarian assistance is vital in sustaining life and must remain outside the realm of politics or conflict,” said the permanent representative.
He then talked about immediate measures that both Israel and Hamas needed to take to pave way for urgent de-escalation.
“India has also been clear on the measures that must be undertaken in the short-term - An immediate ceasefire, sustained and unimpeded humanitarian assistance, release of all hostages, and the path of dialogue and diplomacy. There are no alternatives to these measures.”
Humanitarian crisis in Gaza
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a dire warning on Sunday (July 27), highlighting that malnutrition rates in Gaza have reached “alarming levels,” driven by the “deliberate blocking” of humanitarian aid.
The agency stressed that this crisis, which has already claimed numerous lives, is entirely preventable.
According to WHO data, 74 malnutrition-related deaths have been recorded in Gaza this year, with a staggering 63 occurring in July alone.
Among these, 24 were children under five, one was a child over five, and 38 were adults.
The situation is particularly dire for Gaza’s youngest residents. WHO reports that nearly one in five children in the region is now acutely malnourished. The city of Gaza has been hit hardest, with the percentage of children aged four to six suffering from acute malnutrition tripling since June, making it the epicentre of this escalating crisis in the Palestinian territory.
For months, food security experts have sounded the alarm about the looming threat of famine in Gaza, where over 2 million people reside. Israel has faced criticism for restricting aid deliveries, with officials claiming that Hamas “siphons off” goods to strengthen its control. These restrictions have severely limited access to food and essential supplies, exacerbating hunger and malnutrition.
In response to mounting international pressure and growing concerns about widespread hunger, the Israeli military announced a temporary measure on Sunday. It introduced a “ tactical pause ” in fighting across three populated areas of Gaza, lasting 10 hours each day from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm until further notice.