Over the past year (January 2025 to January 2026), the Gaza crisis has entered an even darker and more brutal phase, marked by events so severe, unexpected, and disturbing that they have shaken global public opinion. Some of these developments are unique to this one-year period, while others represent the continuation of a war trajectory that began two years ago. Drawing on reports from internationally recognized sources—including the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, and the Red Crescent—this article reviews some of the most shocking and tragic episodes of this period.

Famine in Gaza For the first time in Middle Eastern history, in August 2025 the United Nations’ Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) officially declared famine in Gaza City. More than 500,000 people were pushed into catastrophic hunger conditions, with deaths from malnutrition—particularly among children—formally recorded. This unfolded while aid warehouses at border crossings were full, yet humanitarian entry was deliberately blocked.

Gaza’s capacity for self-sufficiency has been almost entirely destroyed. IPC analysis shows that over 96 percent of Gaza’s agricultural land has been either destroyed or rendered unusable, forcing the population into near-total dependence on external aid.

An 80-Year-Old Used as a Human Shield (May 2025) The Israeli army’s Nahal Brigade used an 80-year-old Palestinian man as a human shield for eight hours. Explosive charges were tied around his neck, and he was threatened with execution.

Rising Child Deaths from Hunger and Disease At least 460 famine-related deaths were officially recorded by October 2025, including 154 children. Many children contracted polio. Gaza’s Ministry of Health reported that by July 2025, 968 infants under the age of one had died. These figures are widely believed to be significant undercounts due to the collapse of civil registration systems and thousands of bodies buried beneath rubble. UN experts and human rights organizations have warned that these policies form part of Israel’s genocidal strategy and a broader effort to depopulate Gaza in preparation for annexation.

Mass Killings at Aid Distribution Points (July 2025) In several incidents, dozens of civilians—up to 67 in a single weekend—were killed while attempting to obtain food. The United Nations described these scenes as “chaos” and “a death phase.”

Near-Total Destruction of Civilian Infrastructure More than 92 percent of homes have been damaged or destroyed. All universities, most schools, hospitals, and Gaza’s water and sewage systems have been rendered inoperative. By 2025, northern Gaza had effectively become uninhabitable. Satellite imagery analysis indicates that by October 11, 2025, approximately 81 percent of all structures in Gaza had sustained damage. UNOSAT identified 198,273 damaged structures, including over 123,000 completely destroyed buildings. Compared to July 2025, this represented a 4 percent increase in total damaged structures and an 18 percent rise in fully destroyed ones. An estimated 320,622 housing units were affected, with Gaza City and North Gaza experiencing the most severe escalation in destruction and displacement.

Gideon’s Chariots II” and the Threat of Erasing Gaza City (August–October 2025) Israel launched a large-scale operation aimed at the full occupation of Gaza City. The Israeli defense minister declared that those who remained would be considered “terrorists or terrorist supporters,” even as famine had already been officially declared and hundreds of thousands were unable—or unwilling—to flee.

Ban on UNRWA Operations From January 2025, Israel refused to renew visas for international UNRWA staff. In December 2025, Israeli forces raided UNRWA’s headquarters in occupied East Jerusalem, confiscated equipment, and replaced the UN flag with the Israeli flag. Hundreds of attacks on UNRWA schools were recorded, with many facilities struck multiple times, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of civilians.

Deliberate Deprivation of Drinking Water A detailed Human Rights Watch report (December 2024–January 2025) concluded that Israel has deliberately deprived Palestinians of access to drinking water, describing the policy as a form of genocide and “slow destruction.” Water scarcity has triggered a massive surge in infectious diseases, including a 36-fold increase in acute watery diarrhea and a 384-fold rise in acute jaundice syndrome, indicative of hepatitis A.

Environmental Devastation and Agricultural Collapse Since 2023, Gaza has lost 97 percent of its fruit trees, 95 percent of its shrublands, and 82 percent of its annual crops. Large-scale food production is no longer possible. Approximately 78 percent of Gaza’s buildings have been damaged or destroyed, generating 61 million tons of rubble—some of it contaminated with asbestos and heavy metals. If this trajectory continues, Gaza will inherit a legacy of environmental destruction that will endanger the health of generations to come.

The Erasure of an Agricultural Town in Two Weeks (Khuza’a – May 2025) The town of Khuza’a, home to 11,000 residents and fertile farmland, was completely flattened in under 14 days. Satellite imagery analyzed by Amnesty International confirmed that the destruction was deliberate and part of a strategy to eliminate food sources.

A Collapsing Health System Since March 2025, occupying forces have blocked the entry of all medical supplies, food, and essential goods, deepening Gaza’s health catastrophe. UN experts again warned that this policy forms part of a broader genocidal campaign.

Repeated Violations after the October Ceasefire Even after the October 10 ceasefire, at least 969 violations were recorded by the end of December, resulting in the deaths of over 400 civilians. Many described the ceasefire as “ink on paper.”

Conclusion These events represent a convergence of extreme violence, calculated political decisions, and a full-scale humanitarian disaster. This report has covered only a fraction of the documented atrocities. Despite their visibility and documentation by international institutions, no decisive, rapid, or deterrent action has been taken against the Israeli regime. This silence reveals a deeper truth: responsibility does not lie with Israel alone. Those global powers that enable, justify, or ignore these crimes are active partners in them.

Translated by Ashraf Hemmati from the original Persian article written by Hakimeh Zaeim Bashi

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