World agencies slam Israel for man-made Gaza famine after UN announcement

An announcement that famine has hit Gaza as a result of Israel’s war and siege is a shameful global failure, the Islamic Relief charity said on Friday, with multiple international organisations also condemning the Israel-manufactured crisis.

The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said Friday that famine has struck an area of Gaza and will likely spread over the next month.

It said 514,000 people – nearly a quarter of Gaza’s population – are experiencing famine, and that number was expected to rise to 641,000 by the end of September.

The famine declaration comes as Israel steps up its offensive in the northern Gaza Strip with the aim of occupying the territory.

Gaza’s health ministry says 273 people including 112 children have died from malnutrition and hunger-related causes as Israel hampers efforts to allow in humanitarian aid.

They are among more than 62,000 people who have died in the coastal enclave since 7 October 2023. Most casualties have been women and children, according to the health ministry.

"Today’s official confirmation of famine in Gaza brings shame on the entire world. Every day our team there sees more people starving to death and children turning into living skeletons before our eyes. Many more will die unless the world acts now," Islamic Relief said in a statement.

"The famine is no accident – Israel is intentionally starving Palestinians to death. It is entirely man-made, caused by Israel’s cruel and illegal blockade and the complicity of world leaders who have failed to stop the daily war crimes.

"Never before has a famine – the most extreme and rarest form of starvation – been so widely predicted and so easily preventable, yet repeated warnings have been ignored," the charity said.

Islamic Relief said Israel had destroyed Gaza’s ability to feed itself, blocked lifesaving aid from entering the Strip, and shot dead people who were seeking food aid.

A food distribution scheme operated by the US and Israel backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) began operating in Gaza in late May.

However the UN and rights groups have slammed it as a death trap, with over a thousand desperate Gazans being killed at GHF aid sites by Israeli soldiers or GHF security contractors.

"In the face of relentless violence and suffering, Palestinians in Gaza have shown incredible courage and resilience, but there is a limit to what humans can endure," said Islamic Relief.

"There can be no more excuses. World leaders must finally act to save lives and prevent genocide."

It called for a ceasefire and pressure on Israel to fully reopen all land crossings to allow aid to enter freely into Gaza, saying the humanitarian assistance currently entering was insufficient.

Ceasefire efforts by mediators Egypt, Qatar, and Israel’s main ally the US are yet to yield any results.

Palestinian group Hamas agreed to an older proposal earlier this week that would see a 60-day pause in fighting and the release of Israeli captives still being held in Gaza, but Tel Aviv has signalled its unwillingness to reach a deal.

A joint statement by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UNICEF, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO) also reiterated their calls on Friday for an immediate ceasefire and unhindered humanitarian access.

The agencies stressed that the famine "must be stopped at all costs."

"An immediate ceasefire and end to the conflict is critical to allow unimpeded, large-scale humanitarian response that can save lives," they said.

Alarmed over the military offensive in Gaza City, the agencies warned that many people, particularly sick and malnourished children, the elderly and people with disabilities, may be unable to evacuate.

"People in Gaza have exhausted every possible means of survival. Hunger and malnutrition are claiming lives every day, and the destruction of cropland, livestock, greenhouses, fishery and food production systems has made the situation even more dire," said FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu.

"Our priority must now be safe and sustained access for large-scale food assistance. Access to food is not a privilege – it is a basic human right."

"Famine warnings have been clear for months," said Cindy McCain, the Executive Director of WFP. "What’s urgently needed now is a surge of aid, safer conditions, and proven distribution systems to reach those most in need – wherever they are. Full humanitarian access and a ceasefire now are critical to save lives."

"Famine is now a grim reality for children in Gaza Governorate, and a looming threat in Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis," said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell.

"The world has waited too long, watching tragic and unnecessary deaths mount from this man-made famine," said WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.