Geopolitical Briefing: Palestine
05/08/2025
- At least 74 Palestinians—including 36 seeking aid—were killed in Israeli attacks on 4 August as the UN warned of accelerating famine.
- UN Special Rapporteur Michael Fakhri formally accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war, reinforcing genocide allegations.
- Israeli forces killed 10 aid-seekers and 19 more near the Zikim crossing on 2 August, while malnutrition-related deaths spiked.
- The Action on Armed Violence report revealed 88 % of Israeli military investigations into alleged war crimes were closed without finding fault.
- A conference planned for 28–29 July at UN HQ in New York was postponed; diplomats affirmed plans to revisit Palestinian state recognition and reform of the Authority.
At least 74 Palestinians, including 36 people trying to reach aid, were killed in Israeli strikes on 4 August, as local health authorities confirmed. This coincided with a major escalation in famine conditions throughout Gaza—multiple international observers warned of irreversible humanitarian collapse. This deadly convergence reflects a systematic use of starvation and coercion via blockades and violent crowd control.
Michael Fakhri, the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the right to food, publicly asserted that Israel has constructed a deliberate starvation apparatus in Gaza, marking it as genocide and a crime against humanity. His statement ties directly to mounting international advocacy for accountability and challenges the legitimacy of militarized aid systems imposed by occupying forces.
On 2 August, Israeli forces shot and killed 10 aid-seekers at Gaza Humanitarian Foundation sites and 19 more near the Zikim crossing. Aid group assessments highlight that starvation-related fatalities surged, with widespread reports of children dying of acute malnutrition. These incidents illustrate continued lethal securitisation of humanitarian access under the guise of relief operations.
A new report by Action on Armed Violence (AOAV) showed that 88 % of alleged war crime cases involving Israeli forces in Gaza—totaling over 50 investigations—were closed without findings or prosecutions. Only one case led to prison, five to misconduct findings, and most remained unresolved. The pattern confirms institutional impunity and shields occupation actors from accountability even amid widespread civilian harm.
A UN-sponsored conference originally scheduled for 28–29 July 2025 was postponed, though diplomats reinforced commitments to address Palestinian recognition, the role of the Authority, and hostages. The delay reflects the fragility of international consensus but underscores growing momentum among states to challenge Israel’s occupation narratives and press for structural reform in post-conflict governance.
