The Israeli military campaign in Gaza has taken on many brutal forms, with the most cruel and devastating being the deliberate use of starvation as a weapon. The Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant made a chilling announcement on October 9, 2023, stating that no electricity, food, or fuel would be allowed into Gaza. This decision was justified by dehumanizing Palestinians as “human animals”. This strategy was further reinforced by Member of Knesset Tally Gotliv, who stated that hunger and thirst among the Gaza population were necessary to extract intelligence through bribery. As a result, Israel not only blocked aid delivery to Gaza but also targeted and destroyed food production infrastructure, leading to immense suffering and loss of life, especially among the most vulnerable, such as babies and young children.
The impact of this deliberate starvation tactic extended beyond Gaza, affecting Palestinians in occupied East Jerusalem and the West Bank. As a mental health professional, I have witnessed firsthand the profound psychological and physical toll this collective punishment has had on individuals, particularly young people who are developing complex relationships with food, their bodies, and their identity in response to the ongoing horrors they witness and hear about daily. Healing from this trauma requires a comprehensive intervention that addresses not only individual but also societal and historical trauma.
To understand the devastating effects of weaponized starvation, it is crucial to consider the broader social and psychological context in which it occurs. Trauma, as pointed out by Ignacio Martín-Baró, is not just an individual experience but is deeply embedded within the social structures and conditions surrounding individuals. In Gaza, the trauma inflicted by the ongoing siege, genocidal aggression, and deliberate deprivation of essential resources is compounded by the collective memory of past atrocities, such as the Nakba and the ongoing displacement and oppression of the occupation. This creates a pervasive and deeply ingrained trauma that affects not only individuals but entire communities.
The relentless starvation tactics employed by Israel in Gaza have led to a humanitarian crisis, with reports of severe malnutrition, skyrocketing food prices, and tragic deaths, particularly among children. The mental healthcare system in Gaza has been completely overwhelmed, and the population is facing famine and insecurity due to the control of food distribution by armed groups cooperating with Israeli forces. The impact of this crisis is not limited to Gaza but has reverberated across Palestinian communities, leading to psychological and physical distress, even among those far from the conflict zone.
In my clinical practice, I have encountered several cases that illustrate how the trauma of starvation in Gaza has impacted young Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. These cases, such as Ali’s changes in eating behavior following his friend’s detention or Salma’s hoarding of food in anticipation of genocide, highlight the deep psychological wounds inflicted by the ongoing violence and deprivation in Gaza. These cases are not just individual pathology but are symptomatic of a broader political and social trauma that must be addressed holistically.
As mental health professionals, it is imperative that we not only treat the symptoms of trauma but also confront the political roots of this suffering. This requires a comprehensive approach that considers the sociopolitical context in which individuals live and empowers survivors to reclaim their dignity and agency. Community-based interventions that foster safe spaces and solidarity are essential to healing the deep wounds inflicted by the weaponization of starvation in Gaza and beyond.