Gaza City — Day 657 of the Gaza genocide unfolded with brutal clarity on July 26, 2025, as Israel’s starvation siege and relentless airstrikes continued to ravage the besieged Palestinian enclave. The ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, and campaign of ethnic cleansing is marked by deliberate deprivation and indiscriminate slaughter, with over 122 Palestinians killed on this day alone, most of them innocent children. The US government’s steadfast backing of Israel’s war crimes perpetuates the carnage, cementing Washington’s role as an accomplice to genocide.
Starvation kills hundreds, mostly children
The most harrowing tragedy of the day remains Israel’s calculated use of starvation as a weapon of war. Over 122 Palestinians lost their lives, with a staggering majority of these victims children suffering from malnutrition and treatable illnesses denied aid by the siege. Gaza’s already fragile medical system buckled under the pressure of blocked humanitarian shipments and the destruction of infrastructure.
Hospitals in Gaza reported critical shortages of pediatric nutrition supplies, antibiotics, and essential medicines, leaving doctors to watch helplessly as young lives slipped away. Malnutrition, exacerbated by months of cut-offs in food and clean water supplies, has become a leading cause of death, underlining the genocidal intent behind Israel’s siege tactics.
Airstrikes reduce civilian structures to rubble
Alongside starvation, Israeli air forces launched a series of targeted attack throughout the day, attacking densely populated neighborhoods, homes, and medical facilities. The attacks destroyed multiple residential buildings, leaving families homeless and terrified. Entire blocks were flattened in what witnesses described as indiscriminate bombardment aimed not at militants but at breaking the spirit and survival of Gaza’s population.
The latest round of attack destroyed the Al-Rimal neighborhood in Gaza City and damaged infrastructure vital to civilian life, including water treatment plants and electrical grids. The air raids were carried out despite the presence of civilians and warnings from international aid organizations about the humanitarian consequences.
Medical and aid workers under fire
Paramedics and health workers, already stretched to breaking point, were targeted repeatedly. Ambulances were delayed or turned away at checkpoints, and medical personnel faced increased danger reaching those in need. The blockade continues to prevent the entry of fuel necessary to operate hospitals and emergency services, worsening the death toll.
Health facilities warned that without fuel and medicine, the healthcare system could collapse completely, causing even greater loss of life.
US backing ensures impunity
The United States government’s unwavering military aid and diplomatic shield for Israel remain central to the continuation of this genocide. While the world watches, Washington continues to funnel billions of dollars in weaponry and political cover to Israel, effectively giving Tel Aviv free rein to carry out war crimes.
Despite calls from human rights groups and some international leaders to end the siege and demand accountability, the US routinely vetoes or blocks UN resolutions condemning Israel’s actions. This blatant enabling of mass murder and ethnic cleansing exposes Washington’s complicity in crimes against humanity.
International response: fractured and insufficient
Only a handful of nations have condemned the ongoing genocide, while most Western powers maintain silence or equivocate, echoing the Israeli narrative of “security” to justify collective punishment. Civil society protests persist worldwide, demanding an end to the siege and justice for Gaza’s victims, but these have yet to translate into meaningful policy changes.
The continued failure of the international community to act decisively only emboldens Israel’s genocidal campaign and prolongs the suffering of millions trapped behind the blockade.
Gaza’s resilience amid devastation
Despite the horrific conditions, Gazans show remarkable resilience and defiance. Underground tunnels continue to bring in limited supplies, community networks organize aid distribution, and medical workers struggle tirelessly to save lives amid bombardment.
Yet, without an immediate end to the siege and an urgent influx of humanitarian assistance, Gaza’s population faces an existential crisis that no endurance alone can resolve.
According to Al Jazeera’s live coverage, the day’s death toll of 122 Palestinians—mostly children—highlights the catastrophic human cost of Israel’s starvation policy and siege, which continue unabated even after more than 650 days of genocidal war. The US government’s enabling role remains central to this tragedy, allowing Israel to operate with near-total impunity and leaving Gaza’s civilians to perish in silence .
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Image Caption:
A Palestinian child lies in a hospital bed suffering from severe malnutrition in Gaza City amid ongoing Israeli bombardment and blockade on day 657. [PHOTO: Omar Al-Qattaa/AFP]
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