Gaza Faces Critical Risk of Famine Amid Ongoing Israeli Blockade
Food security experts have issued a stark warning that the Gaza Strip is at critical risk of famine if Israel does not lift its blockade and halt its military campaign, Arab News reported. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), nearly half a million Palestinians—22 percent of Gaza’s population—are experiencing “catastrophic” levels of hunger, facing possible starvation. An additional one million people are at “emergency” hunger levels.
The blockade, now in place for over 10 weeks, has banned all food, shelter, medicine, and other goods from entering Gaza. This comes amid ongoing Israeli airstrikes and ground operations. Gaza’s population of approximately 2.3 million relies almost entirely on external aid, as local food production has been decimated by the 19-month-long military campaign.
Communal kitchens, the last major food source, are rapidly running out of supplies, forcing thousands to queue for hours with no guarantee of receiving food. Aid agencies report rising malnutrition, especially among children, with clinic visits for malnutrition doubling since February.
Israel demands a new aid distribution system under its control, citing concerns over Hamas diverting supplies. The UN and other humanitarian groups reject this, warning it could politicize aid and worsen the crisis. The FAO Director-General emphasized that delays in restoring aid flow bring Gaza “closer to famine,” underscoring the urgent need for action to uphold the basic human right to food.
