The United Nations has officially declared a famine in Gaza, specifically in the city of Gaza, impacting roughly 20% of the territory. A UN official attributed the famine to “direct actions” by the Israeli government, raising concerns about potential war crimes.
Famine Confirmed in Gaza After Months of Warnings
Following months of warnings regarding the deteriorating humanitarian situation, a panel of the Intergovernmental Committee on Humanitarian Assistance based in Rome has confirmed famine in the Gaza province – the city of Gaza – encompassing approximately 20% of the Gaza Strip. High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk stated that the famine in northern Gaza is a “direct consequence of actions by the Israeli government.” He added that death by starvation could equate to a war crime.
First Famine Declared in the Middle East
A famine is declared when three critical thresholds are met: extreme food shortage, acute malnutrition, and death due to starvation. Experts assess that these criteria have been fulfilled. The new analysis indicates the most severe deterioration of the situation since nutritional studies began in the Gaza Strip and the first time a famine has been officially confirmed in the Middle East region. Experts predict that the famine will spread to the Deir Al Balah and Khan Junis provinces in the coming weeks.
Tens of Thousands of Children at Risk of Starvation
According to the UN, approximately 40% of Gaza’s residents have not eaten for several days. Adults regularly skip meals to feed their children. Within the city of Gaza, the number of households reporting severe hunger has tripled compared to May. Compared to an assessment conducted in June, the number of children facing “severe risk of death due to malnutrition” by the end of 2026 has tripled – from around 14,000 to over 43,000. The number of pregnant and breastfeeding women who will suffer from severe malnutrition by mid-2026 has also risen from 17,000 to 55,000. Such a situation can result in premature birth or the birth of a low-weight baby.
Israel: “Lies of Hamas”
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs categorically rejected the findings of the UN report regarding food security, claiming that “there has been no famine in the Gaza Strip and that these findings are based on the lies of Hamas.”
Source: Gazeta,