Israel's unprecedented heavy bombing—dropping more bombs in eight months than during World War II or the eight-year-long Iraq War—has destroyed essential infrastructure for food preparation and distribution, including bakeries, grain mills, and civic centers.

The IDF frequently accuses Hamas of storing weapons within civilian infrastructure. However, this justification is problematic for two key reasons:

1. These claims often appear exaggerated—for instance, in the case of Al-Shifa Hospital.
2. Even if the allegations were entirely accurate, it remains ethically questionable to starve millions of civilians who had no involvement in the October 7 assault. On this note, the widespread targeting of civilian infrastructure is likely illegal under international law, as it (i) violates the principle of proportionality in warfare, and (ii) constitutes collective punishment, which is explicitly prohibited.