ISLAMABAD (Web Desk); A UN-backed hunger monitoring body has officially declared famine in Gaza City and nearby areas, warning that starvation will soon spread across the enclave amid Israel’s ongoing war.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said Friday that 514,000 Palestinians – nearly a quarter of Gaza’s population – are enduring famine, a number expected to rise to 641,000 by late September. It marks the first time the IPC has recorded famine outside Africa.
The crisis follows 22 months of war during which Israeli forces have destroyed critical infrastructure, blocked aid deliveries, and killed civilians seeking food. The report predicts famine will soon engulf central and southern Gaza, including Deir el-Balah and Khan Younis.
UN Response
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the famine a “man-made disaster” and a “failure of humanity,” stressing Israel’s legal duty as an occupying power to ensure food and medical access. Other UN officials echoed his alarm, with UNRWA chief Philippe Lazzarini urging immediate political action and UN aid chief Tom Fletcher accusing Israeli leaders of weaponizing hunger.
Israel’s Reaction
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the IPC’s findings, calling them “an outright lie” and insisting that Israel does not pursue starvation as a policy.
Palestinian Groups
Hamas and Gaza’s Government Media Office said the declaration proves Israel is using starvation as a “tool of war.” The Palestinian Authority said the report “closed the door to speculation,” urging urgent international intervention.
Global Condemnation
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the GCC, and other Arab states condemned Israel’s actions as violations of international law, while Western voices, including UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy, described the famine as a “moral outrage” and “wholly preventable.”
Aid Agencies
Humanitarian groups including the Red Cross, Oxfam, Islamic Relief, CAIR, and Mercy Corps said Israel’s blockade and aid restrictions are directly responsible. Many reported that vital food aid remains stuck outside Gaza while children starve.
