Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has said that the Israeli restriction of food and aid is causing a severe malnutrition crisis in Gaza. The holdups have had devastating effects on pregnant women and their newborns.
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Food aid restrictions cause a malnutrition crisis in Gaza
According to an analysis by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), also known as Doctors Without Borders, there is a severe malnutrition crisis in Gaza. The analysis traces the cause of the crisis to Israel’s restrictions on food and aid in the region.
The crisis has had a devastating effect on pregnant and breastfeeding women, newborns, and infants under 6 months. The problem began with the conflict between Israel and Hamas that led to attacks in Gaza.
Moreover, MSF used data from four of its health facilities in the region to come to its conclusion. It also analysed data collected from 201 mothers of newborns receiving treatment in hospitals in Khan Younis and Gaza City.
The organisation discovered that between late 2024 and early 2026, the facilities recorded higher levels of prematurity and mortality among infants. Mothers suffering from malnutrition gave birth to these infants.
Malnutrition affected more than half of the women at some point during pregnancy, and about 25% were still malnourished during delivery. The clinics during this period also recorded high levels of miscarriage and sharp increases in treatment discontinuation among malnourished children.
Furthermore, 90% of the babies born to mothers affected by malnutrition were born prematurely, and 84% had low birth weight. After-birth deaths among newborns were also twice as high in infants born to mothers with malnutrition.
Israeli blockade of the aid source of malnutrition crisis
MSF connects all these issues to Israel’s blockade of aid, food, and medical supplies into Gaza. It also attributes attacks on civilian infrastructure, insecurity, and displacement to the crisis that pregnant women and newborn children are facing.
“Israel’s tactical restrictions on the entry of food, the militarization of aid corridors and distribution sites, and the targeted attacks on Gaza’s essential infrastructure have created an environment in which hunger is deliberately used as a means of control over the population,” said José Mas, MSF head of emergencies.
Following the war, MSF-supported facilities experienced a sharp increase in patients seeking care because of violence at food distribution points. Authorities militarised the food distribution points, and they were often barely functioning.
However, the MSF has called on Israeli authorities and other allies to work on adequate and sustained entry of essential supplies for people in Gaza.