Need to Know Basis – Famine Edition

Last updated on: May 22, 2026 at 2:13 pm by Kathryn Shihadah

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Need to Know Basis – Famine Edition 2026-05-22T14:13:10-04:00 Kathryn Shihadah

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Some news you need to know, but won’t hear about unless you make an effort:

Gaza is on the brink of another famine. Last summer, this was relatively big news – as in, mainstream media didn’t completely ignore the story. The “war” (i.e. genocide*) was still going, and Israel was being a brutal enemy, perhaps a bit too brutal. When the “ceasefire” was declared in October 2025, the news cycle moved on.

Israel committed to delivering 600 or more truckloads of aid to Gaza per day, including food, medicine, fuel, and sheltering materials. At last there would be relief for the hungry Palestinians.

Except there wasn’t.

Israel failed to keep its promises. (Those who follow the situation in Palestine and Israel were not surprised by this.) Hundreds have died of starvation/malnutrition. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu insisted that the famine was just a myth started to besmirch Israel’s reputation. But he was lying, and everybody knew it.

On a personal note, one of my nephews in Gaza, age 14 or so, was playing soccer with some friends a few weeks ago, when he collided with another player, and suffered a severe fracture in one leg. This was not a high-speed collision between two bulky professional soccer players – just a couple of kids in a friendly game. Why did he get so badly injured? It’s safe to assume that after two full years without access to decent food, weeks on end living on nothing but bread and thin lentil soup, drinking contaminated water, and living with relentless anxiety, his body has become brittle.

Another nephew, in his early 20s, was shot in the leg by an Israeli sniper while he was waiting to get some food aid for the family last summer. He almost lost his leg, and is still struggling to heal. Again, poor nutrition has made his body unable to heal itself properly. He has nerve damage and has trouble walking. He used to dance the dabke like a pro.

So, now you know: Gaza is at the edge of another famine, caused not by drought or earthquake, but by Israel, with help from the US. Our taxes are paying for children to starve. Is this something Jesus would tolerate?

Reach your Representative here, and your Senator here. Email President Trump here. Tell them to make this STOP.

Here are some headlines in case you want to read more on the subject.

Growing bread queues in Gaza as Israel restricts fuel, flour imports

Gaza’s water crisis: Families survive on less than 10 litres a day amid Israel’s ongoing genocide

Six Months after Ceasefire, Gaza Faces Renewed Famine Threat – Human Rights Watch

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