They’re using starvation as a weapon of war

Israel is using starvation as part of a U.S.-backed mass displacement campaign aimed at "entirely erasing Gaza."

Harris, Israel's war on the civilian population of Gaza has escalated to horrific new levels of inhumanity. For nearly three months, Israel imposed a total blockade of food and medicine from entering Gaza, starving a population of 2 million already reeling from a year and a half of brutal war.1 Now, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) and American mercenaries are repeatedly opening fire on starving civilians at newly opened food distribution sites in southern Gaza.2 We must not mince words: Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war in a deliberate and ongoing effort to erase the Palestinian population of Gaza. Demand Progress Action has mobilized tens of thousands of people to call for an end to U.S. military aid to Israel, and with Gaza on the brink of total destruction, we must urgently ramp up our efforts. Will you donate $20 to support our work, including demanding that the U.S. stop supporting Israel's war of annihilation against Gaza? If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately. Donate $20 Donate $40 Donate $75 Or, donate another amount Earlier this week, Oxfam released a comprehensive report detailing that Israel is using starvation as part of a U.S.-backed mass displacement campaign aimed at "entirely erasing Gaza."3 Step one began in March, when Israel imposed a total blockade of food from entering Gaza, effectively creating a man-made famine. Step two was the creation of a new aid distribution network excluding experienced humanitarian groups coordinated by Israel and American military contractors.4 Now a small handful of food distribution centers in southern Gaza are being used to lure starving Palestinians into ever-shrinking zones of confinement likened to "internment camps" by aid experts.5 What comes next? It's no mystery. Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich openly described the plan a few weeks ago, saying that once the Palestinians are crowded into these tiny zones in southern Gaza, they "will start to leave in great numbers to third countries."6 "They will be totally despairing," he continued, "understanding that there is no hope and nothing to look for in Gaza and will be looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places." None of this could be happening without the full-fledged backing of the United States, and we must raise our voices to end these atrocities. So please donate $20 or whatever you can afford to support our work, including ending U.S. support for Israel's war on the civilian population of Gaza. With gratitude, The team at Demand Progress Action DONATE Sources: 1. World Health Organization, "People in Gaza starving, sick and dying as aid blockade continues," May 12, 2025. 2. The New York Times, "More Than 20 Killed Near Aid Distribution Site in Gaza, Health Officials Say," June 1, 2025. 3. Oxfam, "600 days into war, Israel's mass displacement campaign is entirely erasing Gaza — warns Oxfam," May 28, 2025. 4. Al Jazeera, "What is the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, and why has it been criticised?," May 20, 2025. 5. The Intercept, "The Rising Death Toll of the U.S.–Israel Aid Distribution Plan in Gaza," May 28, 2025. 6. The Intercept, "In Gaza, Famine Is the Weapon — and So Is Aid," May 26, 2025. Contributions to ActBlue Civics and Demand Progress Action are not deductible as charitable contributions for federal income tax purposes. Join our online community on Instagram or Twitter. Receiving too many emails from Demand Progress? You can opt to pause emails from Demand Progress for a month. And of course you can unsubscribe from this list at any time.