Watch | Palestinians risk death scrambling for airdropped aid as Gaza famine deepens

In central Gaza’s Zawayda area, desperate Palestinians were seen scrambling for airdropped aid, highlighting the growing hunger crisis in the territory. “Hunger has driven people to turn on one another like this… this [airdrop strategy] is nonsense,” said one local man, voicing frustration at the chaos.The international community has been pressuring Israel to allow more aid into Gaza. A temporary pause in fighting was declared this week, during which Israel permitted more trucks to enter and resumed airdrops.

VIDEO: ‘This is what death looks like’: Desperate scramble for airdropped aid in Gaza.

Gazans scramble for airdropped aid in the central Zawayda area, as international pressure mounts on Israel to agree a ceasefire and allow the world to flood Gaza with food. “Hunger has driven… pic.twitter.com/nIfyxrxOqm

– AFP News Agency (@afp) August 1, 2025

However, aid groups say these measures are limited and cannot meet the needs of a population facing what food experts call a “worst-case scenario of famine.”Despite a rise in trucks entering Gaza, most aid fails to reach UN warehouses. Crowds often overwhelm the trucks, stripping them of supplies. The crowds include both starving civilians and armed groups who loot the goods.

Some Palestinians have been killed trying to reach the aid. Witnesses say Israeli troops have opened fire on crowds, while Israel says it only fires warning shots or acts against perceived threats.

Air-dropped aid is only a small fraction of what’s needed. Some packages land in evacuated or inaccessible zones, others fall into the sea, forcing people to swim for them. “I threw myself in the ocean to death just to bring [my son] something,” said one father, who retrieved only three biscuit packets.

The UN says aid deliveries remain constrained by Israeli military restrictions and lawlessness on the ground. While Israel says it has increased aid flow and offered the UN armed escorts, the UN has refused to be seen cooperating with a party to the conflict, citing risks to its neutrality and past incidents of violence.

Israel allowed no food into Gaza for two and a half months starting in March. Since easing the blockade in late May, it has allowed in 70 trucks a day on average — far below the 500–600 needed. Though Israel says it’s letting sufficient aid through, much of it remains stuck at the border due to security concerns and logistical chaos.

International voices, including President Donald Trump, have called for greater US involvement. Trump proposed setting up “food centers” for Gaza’s two million residents. Military analysts suggest that aid delivery by sea could help.

One option is revisiting a failed US plan to build a floating pier off Gaza’s coast. Another is creating a multinational humanitarian flotilla, involving amphibious ships, helicopters, and support from European navies. These could deliver aid more effectively if Israel secures onshore distribution.

Truck drivers in Gaza report worsening lawlessness. One driver said his truck was surrounded and emptied by a kilometer-long crowd. Another said armed men stole everything, including fuel and batteries, and beat him. “If people weren’t starving, they wouldn’t resort to this,” he said.

Palestinians say current aid methods are humiliating. “This approach is inappropriate… we are humiliated,” said a displaced woman named Rida.

Aid officials argue that recent Israeli efforts are largely symbolic. “These are theatrics, token gestures dressed up as progress,” said Bushra Khalidi of Oxfam. “A few trucks and energy bars from the sky won’t fix irreversible harm to a starving generation.”

(With input from agencies)