Palestinians in Gaza City gathered at a soup kitchen on Wednesday (May 28), attempting to receive meals, with one man describing the difficulties he has encountered in finding food for his family.

“I am waiting for my turn, and God only knows if my turn will ever come or not,” said Ismail Mosleh.

Khawla Abu Zeitar, who has an 11-month-old child, said she did not manage to get a meal.

Back in her tent, Abu Zeitar explained her young child’s condition: “All of the needed lab tests were done for him, (showing) that the boy has severe malnutrition.”

She has been unable to take her child abroad for treatment despite being “granted a (medical) evacuation 20 days ago,” she explained.

Israel imposed the blockade at the beginning of March, saying supplies were being stolen by Hamas and used to entrench its control over Gaza. Hamas denies stealing aid and says it has protected aid trucks from looters.

After a slow and chaotic start to the new U.S.-backed aid system in Gaza, thousands of Palestinians have been arriving at distribution points, seeking desperately needed food despite scenes of disorder and fears of violence.

Israel launched its campaign in Gaza in response to the devastating attack on communities in southern Israel on Oct 7, 2023, that killed some 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage into Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

The campaign has killed more than 54,000 Palestinians and left the enclave in ruins, forcing most of its population to move multiple times, Gaza health officials say.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

GAZA CITY, GAZA (MAY 28, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF PALESTINIANS GATHERED, ATTEMPTING TO GET FOOD FROM SOUP KITCHEN

2. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DISPLACED PALESTINIAN, ISMAIL MOSLEH, 39, SAYING:

“It’s truly a famine, there is nothing more (left), we are done, it is enough. I am waiting for my turn, and God only knows if my turn will ever come or not.”

3. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE, CHILDREN QUEUING

4. CHILDREN CARRYING EMPTY POTS, WAITING IN LINE

5. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) DISPLACED PALESTINIAN, ISMAIL MOSLEH, 39, SAYING:

“I’ve never witnessed as much humiliation as the past two years. I had my house, my car, my job and everything was fine. Today, we can’t eat. We can’t feed our children, no bread, no flour, no water, this place is not my place, or anything. Thank God, what shall I say more?”

6. WOMEN GETTING FOOD SERVED IN THEIR POTS

7. FOOD BEING DISTRIBUTED

8. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CROWDING AT WINDOW

9. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE QUEUING

10. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN MOTHER OF 11-MONTH-OLD CHILD ZAKARIA, KHAWLA ABU ZEITAR, SAYING:

“We went to the soup kitchen, but we did not have any luck and get (food). I have a severely malnourished baby amid the tight siege and the lack of resources… the lack of resources and aid not entering (Gaza). We demand and we call on the entire world to look at (pay attention to) our children, the elderly women, the people who can’t find food for the day.”

11. ABU ZEITAR ENTERING TENT

12. ABU ZEITAR CARRYING HER BABY, ZAKARIA

13. ZAKARIA’S HAND

14. ZAKARIA LYING ON BED

15. ((SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN MOTHER OF 11-MONTH-OLD CHILD ZAKARIA, KHAWLA ABU ZEITAR, SAYING:

“Today, there was an enormous crowd at the soup kitchen. People are hungry, the hunger have killed people. Praise be to God, we are done, we are finished.”

16. ABU ZEITAR WITH HER CHILD

17. ZAKARIA LYING ON BED

18. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN MOTHER OF 11-MONTH-OLD CHILD ZAKARIA, KHAWLA ABU ZEITAR, SAYING:

“This boy is suffering from extreme malnutrition. I took him to al Rantisi (hospital) and ‘Patient Friends’ (hospital) amid the lack of abilities and resources. Praise be to God, we have reached a result. All of the needed lab tests were done for him, (showing) that the boy has severe malnutrition because of the closure of the border crossings, because of the war, because of the siege.”

19. VARIOUS OF ZAKARIA LYING ON BED

20. (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) PALESTINIAN MOTHER OF 11-MONTH-OLD CHILD ZAKARIA, KHAWLA ABU ZEITAR, SAYING:

“The average weight for his age is 12 kilogrammes, now he only weights 3.9 kilogrammes. He has been granted a (medical) evacuation 20 days ago but I’m still waiting.”

21. VARIOUS OF CHILD

22. TENTS, WITH PEOPLE GATHERED