The United Nations-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system has declared that Gaza City and surrounding areas are officially suffering from famine, with over 514,000 people experiencing catastrophic conditions.
This comes after 22 months of war, during which Israeli forces have destroyed infrastructure, blocked aid, and targeted Palestinians seeking food.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the famine, calling it a “man-made disaster, a moral indictment, and a failure of humanity itself”. “Famine is not only about food; it is the deliberate collapse of the systems needed for human survival,” Guterres said.
“People are starving. Children are dying. And those with the duty to act are failing.” Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UN agency for Palestinians, UNRWA, emphasized the need for immediate action, stating that “no more excuses” can be made and that the time for action is now.
The international community has widely condemned the famine in Gaza, with many leaders calling for immediate action to address the crisis.
UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy described the famine as a “moral outrage” and a “man-made catastrophe”, while Saudi Arabia expressed concern over the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza.
The Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, stressed the need for immediate action to pressure Israel to open crossings and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.
Humanitarian organizations have also spoken out against the famine, with Amnesty International’s Erika Guevara Rosas stating that the famine is a “scathing indictment of the failure of states to press Israel into ending its genocide in the occupied Gaza Strip”.
Oxfam’s Helen Stawski called for aid to be immediately allowed into the territory, highlighting that Israel has continued to deprive Palestinians of food and aid despite warnings of imminent famine.
Islamic Relief described the IPC’s confirmation of famine in Gaza as “bring[ing] shame on the entire world”, emphasizing the urgent need for action to prevent further deaths.
Palestinian groups have also reacted strongly to the famine declaration. Hamas called for an immediate end to the war and the lifting of the Israeli siege on Gaza, while the Palestinian Authority’s Foreign Ministry stated that the IPC report “closed the door to interpretation and speculation regarding the occurrence of famine”.
The Gaza Government Media Office accused Israel of using starvation as a “tool of war” and called on the international community to intervene.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has slammed the UN-backed declaration of famine, stating that “the IPC report is an outright lie” and that “Israel does not have a policy of starvation”.
However, critics argue that Israel’s actions, including the blockade of aid and destruction of infrastructure, have contributed to the famine.