Famine has been officially declared in Gaza by a UN-backed global hunger monitor as over half a million people face widespread starvation, extreme deprivation, and preventable deaths.

The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysis said Israel is causing famine in Gaza City and nearby towns — an area home to about 514,000 displaced Palestinians, which is almost one quarter of Gaza’s population.

The IPC is the globally recognised system for measuring hunger. Since it began in 2004, it has declared famine only five times.

The report warns that famine will spread to Deir al-Balah in central Gaza and Khan Younis in the south by the end of September. By then:

• over 640,000 people will face the worst hunger level (IPC Phase 5, “Catastrophic”).
• 1.14 million people will be in IPC Phase 4 (“Emergency”).
• 396,000 people will be in IPC Phase 3 (“Crisis”).

Famine is officially declared when three things happen: there’s extreme food deprivation, acute malnutrition and starvation-related deaths.

“As this Famine is entirely man-made, it can be halted and reversed,” said the IPC report. “The time for debate and hesitation has passed, starvation is present and is rapidly spreading. There should be no doubt in anyone’s mind that an immediate, at-scale response is needed. Any further delay—even by days—will result in a totally unacceptable escalation of Famine-related mortality.”

The report adds: “The FRC [Famine Review Committee] also notes with grave concern the continued and large-scale killing of civilians while trying to access food deliveries and the inadequate planning, implementation, and monitoring of the privatised food distributions conducted by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF).”

“The FRC notes that food distributions conducted by the GHF do not meet the criteria to be classified as humanitarian assistance by the IPC. However, the shipments made by the GHF have been taken into full account during the review and classification process”

The report warned that children, the elderly, and people with illnesses are already dying from hunger and that deaths will rise sharply.

Famine caused by Israel

Almost two years of attacks by Israel have resulted in repeated displacement, and restrictions on humanitarian aid have pushed Gaza to the breaking point. People have limited access to food, clean water, healthcare, farming, and markets.

David Lammy, UK Foreign Secretary, called the famine a “moral outrage” and blamed Israel for blocking aid.

“The confirmation of famine in Gaza City and the surrounding neighbourhood is utterly horrifying and is wholly preventable,” he said in a statement. “The Israeli government’s refusal to allow sufficient aid into Gaza has caused this man-made catastrophe.”

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the IPC report, calling it a “lie.” ” Israel does not have a policy of starvation. Israel has a policy of preventing starvation,” he said.

Amjad Shawa, head of the Gaza NGOs Network, said this is the “worst stage” in Gaza’s history. “We feel very sick and very tired. We must get food otherwise we cannot imagine what will happen.,” he added.

The UK’s Islamic Relief said famine in Gaza is a “shameful global failure.” It said: “The famine is no accident – Israel is intentionally starving Palestinians to death.”

Israel blocked most food and aid from entering Gaza on in early March. It started allowing some deliveries in late May, but almost only through the GHF — an organisation backed by the US and Israel.

Meanwhile, another report by Forensic Architecture and the World Peace Foundation said Israel dismantled a proven civilian aid system and replaced it with one that supports its military goals, making famine worse.