The Gaza Strip is on the brink of famine, as severe hunger levels afflict its population and Israeli military operations continue to deny humanitarian access, a global food security monitor said on Thursday.

According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, nearly 1.84 million people in Gaza live with acute food insecurity, nearing catastrophic levels, with almost 133,000 at such levels.  Even though the number has declined from 343,000 since June, the IPC warned that the situation will likely worsen in the coming months.

U.N. human rights chief Volker Turk described the situation as “beyond terrifying,” laying much of the blame on decisions made by Israeli authorities.  “It is in their power to change the situation – urgently,” Turk said, pointing out that starvation as a method of warfare constitutes a war crime under international law.

While food supplies entering Gaza had increased since May, the IPC said, humanitarian access began to shrink again in September.  Largely sustained fighting has raised fears that the worst case of famine might occur.  “The risk of famine persists across the entire Gaza Strip, with hostilities that have recently begun causing concerns,” the IPC report said.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres was quick to echo these sentiments as he expressed alarm at the conclusions drawn by the IPC.  In a recent social media post, the secretary-general appealed for action: “Famine looms.  This is unbearable.  Crossing points must open immediately, bureaucratic obstacles must be swept aside, and order restored so U.N. agencies can provide lifesaving humanitarian aid.”

The United States strongest ally of Israel warned the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday that it is closely watching the situation to make sure Israeli action does not lead to the starvation of civilians in northern Gaza.  Still, a new IPC assessment now predicts 60,000 cases of acute malnutrition among young children between September 2024 and August 2025-exposing the increasing threat to the vulnerable population in Gaza.

The city of Gaza, with a population of 2.3 million, lies in ruins after more than a year of fighting between Israel and the militant group Hamas.  Much of the region has been reduced to rubble from months of Israeli bombardments, leaving millions with little choice but to be uprooted for the umpteenth time.  Distribution of aid has also been severely compromised by the conflict, with the U.N. citing Israeli restrictions and lawlessness as main obstacles.

The U.N. reported that no food aid entered northern Gaza from Oct. 2 to 15, further compounding the crisis.  Though the Israeli government claims it does not block aid shipments from entering Gaza, Reuters reported that recently, according to various sources of the trade, Israel has stopped processing applications from traders wishing to import foodstuffs.  As a result, the move chokes off an essential source of provisions for the besieged population of Gaza.

The IPC, collaborating with U.N. agencies, national governments, and aid groups, monitors world food crises-or as they called it-classified Gaza’s case under Phase 5, which is the most severe form of food insecurity, including catastrophe and famine.  Famine, in the IPC definition, is when at least 20% of people in an area have experienced extreme food shortages, more than 30% of children suffer from acute malnutrition, and a death toll of at least two people out of every 10,000 occurs daily from hunger and malnutrition or related diseases.

The current situation in Gaza is catastrophic, and unless humanitarian intervention takes place immediately, famine can quickly become a devasting reality for millions of Palestinians.

For more reporting like this, please follow Newsdecensored on your favorite social media sites and bookmark the website. Thank you for your interest and support.