A leading charity has reported that one in four young children and pregnant women in Gaza are suffering from malnutrition, as conditions in the region worsen. Doctors Without Borders has accused Israeli forces of using starvation as a weapon, with severe malnutrition rates among children under five tripling in recent weeks. The situation has been further exacerbated by violence at aid distribution sites, where hundreds of civilians have reportedly been killed while seeking food and water. The United Nations estimates that over 1,000 people have died near these sites, while both Israeli officials and aid organisations dispute responsibility for the deaths.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has described the crisis as a humanitarian catastrophe and announced plans to evacuate critically ill children from Gaza to the United Kingdom for medical treatment. He also called for an immediate ceasefire and lasting peace, while rejecting calls to recognise a Palestinian state at this time. Israel has agreed to allow foreign countries to airdrop aid into Gaza, but humanitarian groups warn that such measures are insufficient and potentially dangerous.