World Central Kitchen halts cooking operations in Gaza due to food shortage

In Gaza, humanitarian efforts have faced significant challenges, particularly for food aid organizations. World Central Kitchen announced on July 21, 2025, that it had halted cooking operations in the region after exhausting all available food supplies. The organization reported that its trucks were stranded at the border and stated the dire need for aid trucks to reach their kitchens safely. Despite the suspension, they continued to provide water and bake bread. This marked the second occasion that World Central Kitchen had to pause operations due to a lack of access to aid. Previously, they ceased cooking for over 12 weeks earlier in May for similar reasons, eventually resuming operations after receiving new shipments of food supplies. The situation has become increasingly critical as ongoing conflict has led to the deaths of many Palestinians attempting to access food from aid distribution sites amid accusations from various humanitarian groups that Israel is conducting a forced starvation campaign against the population. The Israeli military acknowledged reports of casualties but claimed actions were taken to mitigate threats posed by crowds at aid sites. The environment for aid delivery worsened as reports emerged indicating that United Nations aid trucks were idle, with claims that drivers sometimes collaborated with Hamas. The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation reported that it was still active and able to deliver millions of meals daily, contrasting itself against the ineffectiveness attributed to the United Nations' operations. While humanitarian groups like World Central Kitchen strive to provide relief, the larger political context, security issues, and competition for aid control complicate the delivery of assistance on the ground.