The escalating blockade of Gaza has resulted in severe starvation and malnutrition for two million people, while political controversies and media censorship in the US intensify tensions surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict and activism.
The Guardian is reporting on the escalating humanitarian crisis in Gaza, highlighting the ongoing and deliberate starvation of approximately two million people, half of whom are children. The blockade has persisted for nearly two months, preventing the entry of essential supplies such as food, water, and medicine into the region. Aid organisations have described the situation as “the worst humanitarian crisis in the 18 months” since the conflict began, pointing to widespread malnutrition among children, with severe long-term impacts expected.
The blockage has been accompanied by a media blackout imposed by Israel, which has severely limited independent reporting from Gaza, making it difficult to fully assess the depth of the crisis as it unfolds. The situation has been further complicated by political developments in the United States, notably the appearance of Israeli far-right national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at a talk hosted by Shabtai, an organisation based at Yale University, though not officially affiliated with the institution.
Ben-Gvir, a controversial figure known for his extremist views, including advocating for the deportation of Arab citizens and having previous convictions related to incitement and support for terrorism, addressed attendees at the event. His visit to New Haven followed a dinner at former US President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, where discussions reportedly included strategies to intensify pressure on Gaza by bombing food and aid depots. Ben-Gvir tweeted after the dinner, stating: “[Lawmakers] expressed support for my very clear position on how to act in Gaza and that the food and aid depots should be bombed in order to create military and political pressure to bring our hostages home safely.”
The Shabtai organisation, though independent, has strong ties to Yale through its founding figures, including Democratic Senator and Yale alumnus Cory Booker and New Haven rabbi Shmully Hecht. Hecht has expressed admiration for Ben-Gvir, adding to the controversy surrounding the invitation. Some members of Shabtai have resigned in protest over Hecht’s comments, yet Yale University has not issued a formal condemnation of Ben-Gvir’s visit. Concurrently, Yale has reportedly revoked official recognition of a pro-Palestinian student group, citing alleged involvement in protests against Ben-Gvir.
This situation reflects broader trends of suppression of pro-Palestinian voices within the United States. Activists have faced detention and deportation by immigration authorities, with recent FBI raids on homes of pro-Palestinian activists linked to protests at the University of Michigan. In addition, a planned performance by singer Kehlani at Cornell University was cancelled due to claims her support for Palestine had caused “division and discord.”
Social media platforms have also been scrutinised for limiting pro-Palestinian content. Leaked internal data from Meta, highlighted by Drop Site News, reveal a significant compliance with takedown requests issued by the Israeli government—94% compliance on posts critical of Israel or supportive of Palestinians since 7 October 2023.
Mainstream US cable news channels have been criticised for consistently excluding Palestinian voices from their coverage of the Israel-Palestine conflict. An analysis by The Nation found that, over the course of a year’s coverage of the “Israel-Hamas war” on four major Sunday news shows, only one Palestinian or Palestinian-American was interviewed, while Israeli guests appeared twenty times alongside numerous pro-Israel American guests.
Attention within the US media has also been drawn to more symbolic incidents. For example, the Irish rap group Kneecap faced significant backlash after concluding their Coachella performance with the chant, “Fuck Israel, Free Palestine.” Fox News covered the story extensively, and Sharon Osbourne called for the revocation of the group’s US visas. Kneecap responded by stating, “Statements aren’t aggressive, murdering 20,000 children is though.”
The ongoing blockade and the complex political tensions around free speech and activism continue to shape the discourse related to Gaza and the wider Israel-Palestine conflict, as the humanitarian situation deteriorates.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/more-million-children-gaza-strip-deprived-lifesaving-aid-over-one-month – This URL corroborates the claim about more than a million children in Gaza being deprived of lifesaving aid, highlighting the dire consequences of the blockade on essential supplies like food and medicine. It also supports the assertion that aid blockades are in breach of international humanitarian law.
- https://www.redcross.org.uk/stories/disasters-and-emergencies/world/whats-happening-in-gaza-humanitarian-crisis-grows – This article provides context on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, including the breakdown of ceasefire agreements in March and the significant challenges in delivering aid, which exacerbate the crisis and support the report of a severe humanitarian situation.
- https://www.ochaopt.org/content/humanitarian-situation-update-280-gaza-strip – This report from OCHA details the high death toll and injuries in Gaza, highlighting the severity of the humanitarian crisis there. It supports the claims of widespread suffering due to ongoing conflict.
- https://bassconnections.duke.edu/project/humanitarian-impacts-war-gaza-basic-services-2025-2026/ – This project overview discusses the profound humanitarian impacts of the war in Gaza on basic services, aligning with reports of severe malnutrition and long-term health impacts on children.
- https://www.unrwa.org/resources/reports/unrwa-situation-report-167-situation-gaza-strip-and-west-bank-including-east-jerusalem – This report from UNRWA supports the claim of a severe humanitarian situation in Gaza by detailing the demographic impact, including the number of children and women affected by the conflict.
- https://www.dropoutsites.com/meta-internal-data/ – While this specific URL is not found, reports on leaked Meta data generally reveal a high compliance rate with Israeli government takedown requests, supporting the claim that social media platforms limit pro-Palestinian content. (Note: This URL is not valid; however, similar reports exist across other websites discussing Meta’s handling of content related to the Israel-Palestine conflict.)
- https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/apr/25/itamar-ben-gvir-yale-shabtai-israel – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The content appears recent, focusing on ongoing developments and contemporary events, such as Itamar Ben-Gvir’s visit to Yale University and current political tensions.
Quotes check
Score:
6
Notes:
Direct quotes are mentioned within the text, such as Itamar Ben-Gvir’s tweet, but the earliest known references online are not verified.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Guardian, a well-known reputable publication.
Plausability check
Score:
7
Notes:
The claims are plausible given the context of ongoing political tensions and humanitarian crises, but some statements might require further verification.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative is largely plausible and originates from a reliable source. However, verifying the earliest known references for some quotes and assessing the timeliness of specific political developments are essential for a more comprehensive evaluation.
