A United Nations agency warned that famine has officially occurred in some areas of the Gaza Strip. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) stated in a recent report that the area, including Gaza City, is in a state of "man-made famine" and that the situation will rapidly worsen if the conflict continues.
According to a CNN report on the 23rd (local time), the report urged that "this famine is entirely man-made and can be stopped and reversed," calling for immediate and large-scale responses. The IPC warned that if humanitarian supplies are not delivered to all residents without a ceasefire agreement, "avoidable deaths will increase exponentially."
During nearly two years of war, Israel has frequently restricted or blocked the influx of humanitarian supplies. Some residents have died from starvation, and others lost their lives while trying to receive aid at the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) distribution center supported by the U.S. and Israel.
Israel and the U.S. strongly opposed the report. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee claimed that "the UN is corrupt and incompetent," alleging that Hamas has diverted much of the UN food aid for resale. The Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) also rebutted that the report was based on "biased data from Hamas." However, humanitarian organizations and local testimonies support that a real famine is underway in Gaza.
United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres defined the famine as "a disaster caused by man, a violation of international law, and a failure of humanity as a whole." He emphasized that "as the occupying power, Israel has a duty to ensure the food and medical needs of the population," asserting that no more excuses are acceptable. Amnesty International also criticized Israel's policies as a "deliberate famine strategy."
Humanitarian organizations report horrific conditions on the ground. Last month, CNN reported that Rajan Abu Zahir (4) died from complications related to malnutrition. The Palestinian Ministry of Health announced that 271 people have died from starvation so far, including 112 children. The IPC warned that by June 2026, 130,000 children under the age of five may face life-threatening conditions.
Testimonies from Gaza residents are desperate. Local journalist Ahed Ferwana said, "We have been suffering from famine for months, and now the international community must recognize the severity of this tragedy." Resident Bisan Ghazal stated, "Some days, we don't eat even one meal," adding that "children often fall asleep crying." Another resident, Tawfiq Abu Rajad, remarked that "food prices have skyrocketed and we cannot source protein," affirming that the IPC's famine designation is accurate.
Such testimonies add weight to the IPC's designation. Official famine declarations are extremely rare, and the IPC has only declared famine in Somalia in 2011, South Sudan in 2017 and 2020, and Sudan's Darfur in 2023. This is the first confirmed famine in the Middle East. The UN, World Health Organization, World Food Programme, and UNICEF demand immediate international intervention, stating that "famine must be prevented by any means necessary."
The Gaza famine is generating international controversy as it is not merely a food shortage but a disaster created by war, blockades, and political calculations. An expert stated in an interview with CNN, "There is food piled up at the borders, but political decisions are blocking it," emphasizing that "the famine is a tragedy that could have been prevented."