UN Declares Famine in Gaza

Darwin, August 23 – The United Nations has officially declared that a famine is underway in Gaza. Using the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system, the UN reported that over half a million Palestinians are facing catastrophic food insecurity—characterized by starvation, destitution, and death.

However, Israel’s Foreign Ministry has rejected the report, claiming there is no famine in Gaza and alleging that the report is based on “Hamas propaganda.”

Meanwhile, medical sources told Al Jazeera that at least 30 Palestinians, including 25 in Gaza City, were killed across Gaza amid heavy Israeli bombardment from early morning.

Hamas has accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of continuing military occupation in Gaza City while ignoring international mediators’ efforts toward a ceasefire.

Elsewhere, global leaders have strongly condemned Israel’s approval of the controversial “E-1” settlement expansion project, which cuts off connectivity between Ramallah and Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.

Surviving Through Begging and Garbage

For the first time, a new IPC Famine Review Committee report has confirmed that famine is indeed occurring in Gaza. The report states that many Palestinian families are being forced to beg for food or scavenge through garbage to survive.

According to the report, 28% of respondents in Gaza Governorate said they had to resort to begging for food. It is feared that by the end of September, 35% of the population in this region will be experiencing famine conditions.

An additional 15% reported scavenging through trash for food, while nearly 40% said they collected garbage to sell in order to afford food. Over one-third of families in Gaza City and surrounding areas reported experiencing “extreme hunger,” meeting IPC Phase 5 indicators – the threshold for famine.

Israel’s Strategy: Denial and Blame-Shifting

Israeli political analyst Uri Goldberg stated that Israel’s approach to the hunger crisis in Gaza is to deny all responsibility.

He explained, “Most Israelis believe Hamas is to blame for every death in Gaza—not Israel. This applies not only to famine but also to daily bombings and acts of mass killing.”

Goldberg noted that Israel has near-total control over the flow of goods into Gaza. He said, “Aside from smuggling, Israel controls almost everything.”

As an example, he said, “Coriander might be allowed in one day, only to be banned the next. Israel does everything it can to disrupt every step of the aid distribution process.”

A Man-Made Famine – Ceasefire Is Urgent

The IPC Famine Review Committee emphasized that the famine in Gaza is entirely man-made and can be stopped and reversed—but only with immediate, large-scale intervention.

The report warned:

“There is no doubt that immediate, large-scale action is needed. Even a delay of a few days will cause an unacceptably high increase in famine-related deaths.”

The committee further warned that unless a ceasefire is enforced immediately and humanitarian aid and food supplies are restored, the number of preventable deaths will skyrocket.

This marks the fifth time the IPC has convened to assess Gaza’s food crisis—an unprecedented frequency, the report noted.

“It is a grim reflection that not only has the suffering in Gaza continued, it has intensified and expanded to the point that famine has now begun.”

Casualties So Far

Since the start of Israel’s assault on Gaza, at least 62,192 Palestinians have been killed, and 157,114 wounded.

On the other hand, during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, 1,139 Israelis were killed, and over 200 people were taken hostage.