Overview

• On August 12, Madonna urged Pope Leo XIV in an open letter to visit Gaza to “bring his light to the children” and fully open humanitarian corridors before it’s too late.
• WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus publicly thanked Madonna for elevating attention to Gaza’s humanitarian emergency.
• UN and WHO reports indicate more than 5,000 children in Gaza were diagnosed with malnutrition in May, fueling fears of a man-made famine.
• The Israeli government maintains it has delivered sufficient food and accuses Hamas of diverting aid, while UN agencies report persistent obstacles to relief distributions.
• Pope Leo XIV has renewed calls for an immediate ceasefire and respect for humanitarian law, but no papal visit has been confirmed and access remains severely constrained.