UN-supported global hunger monitor confirms famine in Gaza City

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Key Points

A UN-supported famine review panel has identified that over half a million individuals in Gaza are facing famine conditions.
The report found evidence of famine in Gaza City and nearby areas from July through mid-August.
Israel disputes the famine findings, labeling the report as “unprofessional”.

The hunger monitor committee sanctioned by the UN stated on Friday that Gaza City and adjacent regions are officially enduring famine, with expectations for it to expand further.

This UN-associate committee disclosed that 514,000 people—nearly one-fourth of the Gaza population—are suffering from famine, with the projection of this figure increasing to 641,000 by September’s end.

Included among these individuals are 280,000 residing in the northern zone encompassing Gaza City, referred to as Gaza governorate, deemed to be in famine following nearly two years of conflict between Israel and the Palestinian faction Hamas.

It marks the first time the IPC has noted famine beyond the African continent, with forecasted expansions of famine into the central and southern territories of Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by next month’s conclusion.

Furthermore, the IPC indicated that circumstances in the northern territories could potentially be harsher than in Gaza City, although lack of data hinders precise assessment.

Israel dismissed the findings as false and biased, saying the IPC had based its survey on partial data largely provided by Hamas, which did not take into account a recent influx of food.

The report was an “outright lie”, said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“Israel maintains no policy of enforced starvation,” a statement read. “Since the onset of conflict, Israel has facilitated the entry of 2 million tons of aid into the Gaza Strip, an average of over a ton per individual.”

How is famine classified?

The IPC — composed of 21 relief organizations, UN bodies, and regional groups backed by the European Union, Germany, Britain, and Canada — previously registered famines four times: Somalia in 2011, South Sudan in 2017 and 2020, and Sudan in 2024.

For a region to be classified as in famine at least 20 per cent of people must be suffering extreme food shortages, with one in three children acutely malnourished and two people out of every 10,000 dying daily from starvation or malnutrition and disease.

Following the announcement, United Nations humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher said it was a “21st century famine, watched over by drones and the most advanced military technology in history”.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said the Gaza famine was a “man-made disaster, a moral indictment, and a failure of humanity itself”.

He called for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages still held by Hamas and unfettered humanitarian access.

IPC says famine-related mortality could escalate

Israel controls all access to Gaza. COGAT, the arm of the Israeli military that oversees aid flows, said the IPC report ignored Israeli data on aid deliveries and was part of an international campaign aimed at denigrating Israel.

“The IPC report is not only biased but also serves Hamas’ propaganda campaign,” the agency said.

The report said “urgent steps should be taken to allow for a full humanitarian assessment in this governorate.”

The report details that “as this famine is entirely man-made, it can be halted and reversed,” with the committee calling for swift action.

“The time for debate and hesitation has passed, starvation is present and is rapidly spreading,” it read.

“There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that an immediate, at-scale response is needed.

“Any further delay — even by days — will result in a totally unacceptable escalation of famine-related mortality.

“Without a ceasefire enabling unobstructed humanitarian aid to the entire Gaza Strip, and absent immediate reinstatement of vital food, health, nutrition, and WASH services, preventable mortalities will drastically rise.”

Underscoring those worries, Britain called the IPC report “utterly horrifying” and demanded that Israel immediately allow unhindered supplies of food, medicines and fuel.

Britain, Canada, Australia and many European states recently said the humanitarian crisis had reached “unimaginable levels”.

UN refugee agency says Israel blocking ‘warehouses full of food’

On Saturday, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) said it had “warehouses full of food” that Israel was blocking the distribution of.

“Famine in Gaza City can be stopped,” the Palestinian refugee agency said in a post on social media platforrm X.

“Reverse the ongoing catastrophe — flood #aza with a massive scale-up of aid through the United Nations, including UNRWA.

“UNRWA’s warehouses alone in Jordan and Egypt are full. There is enough food, medicines and hygiene supplies ready to fill 6,000 trucks. The State of Israel must let us bring aid into Gaza.”