CW Note

CWA # 1783
CW Note
The War in Gaza: Failed negotiations, unfolding famine and the mounting international pressure

Brighty Ann Sarah and R Preetha
7 August 2025

Photo Source: AP Photo

In the news
On 5 August, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met senior security officials to finalise a new strategy for the war in Gaza, with media reports suggesting he supports a full military takeover of the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territory. 

On the same day, the UN expressed concern over reports of this possible expansion, calling them “deeply alarming,” if true. "International law is clear in this regard; Gaza is and must remain an integral part of the future Palestinian state," stated the UN Assistant Secretary. 

On 4 August, Reuters reported that Israeli strikes killed at least 40 Palestinians, including ten seeking aid, and five more died of starvation. Canada conducted its humanitarian airdrop over Gaza. "This obstruction of aid is a violation of international humanitarian law and must end immediately," stated the Canadian government.

On 1 August, France airdropped 40 tonnes of humanitarian aid into Gaza. "Airdrops are not enough. Israel must open full humanitarian access to address the risk of famine," President Emmanuel Macron said in his X statement. 

On 30 July, Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney announced plans to recognise a Palestinian state in September, becoming the third G7 nation, following France and the UK, to make such an announcement recently.

On 29 July, the latest Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) alert was issued, reporting that “the worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip.”

Issues at large
First, the humanitarian crisis and unfolding famine. The recent IPC alert stated that Gaza has met two out of the three thresholds of an active famine: plummeting food consumption and malnutrition. As of July 2025, nearly 320,000 children, every child under five in Gaza, are at risk of acute malnutrition, according to UNICEF. Although humanitarian airdrops have resumed, agencies including UNRWA and the Protection Cluster warn that they are severely insufficient and inaccessible to the most vulnerable. Aid groups and UN agencies point to Israel’s blockade as the primary cause for the starvation, stressing that land access for aid must be urgently expanded. The UN reported 180 hunger-related deaths, including 93 children, as of August. The crisis is compounded by Israel’s attacks on aid seekers, with the UN reporting that over 1,000 died attempting to access aid since the Gaza Humanitarian Facility (GHF) began in May 2025. 

Second, the collapse of the Doha negotiations. The failed mediation by the US, Egypt and Qatar to establish the 60-day truce and the exchange of hostages has diminished the prospects of diplomatic resolution. Israel remained at an impasse over Hamas’ demands of lifting the blockades over humanitarian aid, complete withdrawal of Israeli forces, and the end to all hostilities. Following the stalled negotiations, Hamas reiterated that it would not disarm without “the full restoration of our national rights, foremost among them the establishment of an independent, fully sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.” The repeated failures to compromise on urgent humanitarian concerns fuel the deadlock and erode the prospect for a ceasefire. 

Third, mounting international and domestic pressure. The repeated collapse of ceasefire efforts and the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza have weakened the support of Western allies. France, Canada and the UK have voiced their plans to recognise the Palestine state at the UN General Assembly in September. The call for a ‘two-state resolution’ is also gaining momentum as all other diplomatic efforts fail. Domestically, Netanyahu’s annexation plans face resistance from military leadership, while public outrage over the prolonged war and the failure to secure the release of the hostages has reached unprecedented levels. 
 
In perspective
First, the shifting international dynamics and what they mean. The recent announcements by the UK, France, and Canada to recognise a Palestinian state signal a clear diplomatic shift. If Israel maintains its current course, it risks growing isolation. Despite the mounting international pressure, they still fall short of a coordinated global response. The absence of a coherent post-conflict strategy for Palestine further erodes international confidence in Israel’s actions. Israel’s demand to dismantle Hamas before any withdrawal, and Hamas’s refusal to disarm, have created a deadlock that benefits neither side. The international community needs to move toward a unified framework to end the war and prevent it from becoming a permanent flashpoint.

Second, the inaction in Gaza and its cost. The failure to reach a ceasefire and ongoing challenges to aid delivery have pushed Gaza deeper into crisis. The international community’s inability to ensure consistent humanitarian access or restrain Israel’s operations risks normalising the crisis. UN agencies have warned of “mass starvation” calling it man-made. Protecting civilians must outweigh tactical disagreements, as each delay brings Gaza closer to famine and long-term collapse.

About the author
Brighty Ann Sarah and R Preetha are postgraduate students at the Department of International Studies, Stella Maris College, Chennai. 

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