According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) system, approximately 5,14,000 individuals in Gaza, which makes up nearly one-fourth of the Palestinian population in the territory, are currently suffering from famine. Projections indicate that this number may rise further, reaching around 6,41,000 people by the end of September. A global hunger assessment has confirmed that famine has already taken hold in certain parts of Gaza, and the crisis is expected to worsen in the coming weeks. This development has intensified the international call for Israel to permit a greater flow of humanitarian aid into the heavily devastated Palestinian enclave.
The IPC’s findings reveal that about 2,80,000 residents in the northern governorate of Gaza City are already experiencing famine, making this the first time such a designation has been applied to the territory. The report further warned that regions such as Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis are also at high risk of slipping into famine conditions in the coming month if the situation continues to deteriorate.
Israel, however, dismissed the IPC’s conclusions, labeling them “false and biased.” Officials from its aid coordination authority argued that the report was based on “partial data” provided by Hamas, thereby questioning its reliability and accuracy.
At the same time, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres declared that the word “famine” must now be added to the already grim description of life in Gaza, calling the situation a man-made catastrophe, a moral failure, and an indictment of humanity’s conscience. He emphasized that famine is not solely about the absence of food, but about the collapse of critical systems necessary for human survival, which has left families starving and children dying. Guterres further reminded the international community that Israel, as the occupying power, bears a legal responsibility to ensure that adequate food and medical supplies reach civilians in need.
He stressed that what is unfolding in Gaza is not an unforeseen natural tragedy but a preventable disaster brought about by human actions and choices. By labeling it a man-made crisis, Guterres highlighted the ethical and legal dimensions of the famine, urging immediate global action to address the worsening humanitarian conditions.
The IPC clarified that its assessment covered the governorates of Gaza, Deir al-Balah, and Khan Younis, but it was unable to classify the situation in North Gaza due to severe restrictions on access and the absence of reliable data.
The ongoing conflict in Gaza can be traced back to October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack in southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and resulted in 250 Israelis being taken hostage. In response, Israel began a large-scale military operation in Gaza, which, according to the health authorities in the territory, has so far led to the deaths of more than 62,000 Palestinians.
Efforts to bring an end to the war are continuing, with the United States, Qatar, and Egypt actively engaged in mediation in hopes of achieving a ceasefire and reducing the devastating impact on civilians.
