UN Officially Announces Food Crisis in Gaza Strip, but Israel Disputes This Claim

The United Nations (UN) has declared a famine in the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian enclave that is currently grappling with a humanitarian crisis of unprecedented proportions. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a world-recognized independent food security system backed by the UN, made this determination based on evidence collected and analyzed.

The Famine Review Commission's report states that the territory is in Phase 5 of the classification, reflecting extreme lack of access to food and water, large-scale displacement, and a high mortality rate. Over half a million people in the enclave face catastrophic conditions, with more than 20% of Gazan households not having access to food, and more than 30% of children under five being acutely malnourished.

Volker Türk, the UN's head of human rights, has accused the Netanyahu government of being responsible for the famine in the Gaza Strip. Türk claims that the deaths resulting from the hunger imposed on Gazans can also be considered a war crime of intentional murder.

However, the Israeli Foreign Ministry has denied the existence of a famine in the Gaza Strip and labeled the UN's conclusion as a "fraudulent campaign" by Hamas. Israel claims to have allowed the entry of two million tons of aid into the Gaza Strip, more than a ton of aid per person, since the start of the conflict.

The IPC report has been labeled as "fabricated" and "tailored" by the Israeli Foreign Ministry. In contrast, the director of the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher, expresses his belief that the famine in Gaza could have been avoided without the "systematic obstruction by Israel." Food is piling up at the borders due to Israel's systematic obstruction, according to Fletcher.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged for an immediate ceasefire, the release of hostages, and unfettered access for humanitarian aid. Guterres stresses that the current situation is a "failure for all of humanity." The Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu, dismissed the UN's declaration, calling it a "blatant lie."

The famine is expected to worsen further towards the center and south of the enclave between mid-August and late September 2025. The IPC projected the famine situation in the Gaza Strip for these months, identifying Gaza Governorate, Deir Al Balah, and Khan Younis Governorates as the most severely affected areas.

The situation in Gaza has been described as a "hell" for the Palestinian population by UN Secretary-General António Guterres. Tom Fletcher, the director of the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, believes that the famine in Gaza will haunt us and should haunt us all. Türk states that using hunger as a method in an armed conflict is a war crime. The world watches as the crisis in Gaza unfolds, with hopes for a swift resolution and an end to the suffering.

UN Officially Announces Food Crisis in Gaza Strip, but Israel Disputes This Claim