A global hunger monitor declared on Friday that famine has hit Gaza and could spread in the coming month. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said about 514,000 people—nearly one in four Palestinians in Gaza—are already facing famine. This number may rise to 641,000 by the end of September.
The famine is mostly in Gaza City and surrounding areas, with the northern Gaza governorate officially classified as experiencing famine for the first time. Central and southern parts of Gaza are expected to reach famine conditions soon. The IPC defines famine by extreme food shortages, malnutrition, and starvation-related deaths.
Israel dismissed the report as false and biased, claiming the data came from Hamas sources. The Israeli military’s COGAT agency said it has increased food deliveries and rejected the famine claim as unprofessional. Israel controls all access to Gaza, limiting aid flows.
U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk blamed the famine on Israeli government actions and warned that starvation deaths could be considered war crimes. The humanitarian crisis follows years of conflict, with Gaza’s 2 million residents suffering severe shortages amid ongoing violence.
The Gaza war began in October 2023 after Hamas attacked Israel, killing over 1,200 people. Since then, more than 62,000 Palestinians have died in Israeli military operations. International efforts continue to broker peace, but the situation remains dire.