**Gaza Journalists Face Dire Hunger Amid Conflict's Toll**

*In a heart-wrenching account, we hear from Gaza's freelance journalists who juggle their professional duties with the desperation of ensuring their families' survival amidst severe hunger and poverty.*

In the besieged Gaza Strip, freelance journalists are not only capturing the unfolding humanitarian crisis but are also enduring the same dire conditions themselves. Three trusted Palestinian correspondents associated with the BBC have shared their harrowing experiences of grappling with starvation while striving to document the events around them. Each report reveals a deepening struggle to feed their families, with periods of up to two days or more without nourishment becoming a grim reality.

Despite losing relatives and homes to airstrikes, these journalists remain dedicated to their work, capturing essential footage that helps the world understand the harsh realities of their existence. One journalist, who has previously faced physical injury from shrapnel, described his current experiences as the most challenging of his life. He stated, “It’s a huge crisis of suffering and deprivation.”

Although global food security experts have not officially labeled the situation as a famine, the warnings from UN agencies about the risk of mass starvation grow louder, with accusations directed at Israel for controlling access to vital supplies. The Israeli government has denied such responsibility.

Out of respect for their safety, the identities of these journalists are being withheld. One report reveals the challenges faced by a father of four, who watches helplessly as his autistic son signals through hunger pangs. Young siblings are also stricken by famine, with one journalist expressing the pain of not being able to provide even basic necessities for his 13-year-old sister.

In solidarity with local journalists, several major news organizations, including the BBC, have issued statements regarding their distress over the deteriorating health of their correspondents amid the turmoil. They noted that these independent reporters are the vital eyes and ears on the ground, yet now find themselves in dire circumstances similar to those they report on.

As the conflict rages, many journalists reveal a significant decline in their physical health, struggling to perform even basic tasks as fatigue overwhelms them. “I feel tired and exhausted all the time," shared one, noting he had lost 30 kilograms over the protracted conflict. The psychological toll is equally harrowing, with one journalist mentioning how dizziness now complicates his ability to complete even one news story.

With rising food prices and fewer supplies available, many journalists resort to charity kitchens, relying on limited offerings of staples like rice and lentils. Compounding their struggles, difficulties in accessing cash have turned financial transactions into burdensome tasks, where exorbitant fees diminish their limited resources, leaving them to face hunger daily.

Contrary to previous ease of access for foreign journalists in conflict zones, the current war has severely restricted movement in and out of Gaza. News organizations have called for an end to these restrictions to help shed light on the conditions faced by both journalists and civilians.

As the humanitarian crisis persists, a collective drive from over a hundred aid agencies calls for urgent action, noting that reporters themselves are becoming victims in an environment where hunger has reached every household. "It's currently catastrophic," one journalist lamented. Their struggle is not just to survive but to ensure that the world remains aware of the extraordinary challenges they face.