Malnutrition crisis deepens as Texas surgeon treats patients in Gaza

In early August 2025, Texas surgeon Mohammed Adeel Khaleel arrived at a hospital in Gaza City to volunteer his medical services. On his first day, he encountered a 17-year-old patient suffering from gunshot wounds sustained while attempting to gather food at an aid site. The injuries highlighted the dire situation in the region, where the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification reported that parts of Gaza were experiencing famine for the first time. This announcement prompted dramatic concerns as medical facilities struggled to provide necessary supplies. The surgery and recovery process was complicated by widespread malnutrition, as many patients displayed alarming signs of weight loss and other complications due to lack of nutrients. Many families, forced to move multiple times within Gaza because of evacuation orders, faced increasing food scarcity. Doctors reported that patients had protruding ribs and bony limbs, reflecting severe health deterioration linked to inadequate food supplies and nutrition. The dire situation prompted organizations focused on global hunger to investigate further, calling attention to rising malnutrition rates, particularly affecting children and pregnant women. Reports showed that health professionals at hospitals were dealing with an influx of patients suffering not only from traumatic injuries but also from the effects of hunger. Many patients, including Yousef Sbeteh’s daughter, requiring nutritional support were left without adequate food sources like protein and dairy due to ongoing blockades and lack of humanitarian assistance. This malnutrition crisis in Gaza highlighted the intersection of war, displacement, and food insecurity, leaving medical personnel deeply concerned about patients' long-term health. Witnessing severe malnourishment across the board, medical professionals like Mohammed Adeel Khaleel pointed out that they could visibly see the consequences of starvation reflected on patients' bodies. Many families struggling with poverty shifted their spending towards moving and seeking safety, which further hindered their ability to procure sufficient food. The IPC warned that, without a ceasefire and increased humanitarian aid, the famine prediction would worsen, leading to more tragic health consequences. The situation in Gaza represents a critical humanitarian crisis, and the need for immediate action cannot be overstated.