In a damning statement, 10 independent UN experts have accused Israel of intentionally and deliberately starving the Palestinian people in Gaza, calling it a form of genocidal violence. The experts say that the famine has spread throughout the entire enclave, with the deaths of a baby, a 9-year-old boy, and a 13-year-old boy since May 30 being clear evidence that the crisis has escalated beyond northern Gaza.
The Israeli military campaign, which began in October 2023, has severely restricted aid flows into Gaza, leading to a dire humanitarian crisis. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a UN-backed global monitor, has warned that more than 495,000 people across Gaza - more than a fifth of the population - are facing the most severe, or catastrophic, level of food insecurity. This means that these individuals are experiencing an extreme lack of food and starvation.
Israel's diplomatic mission in Geneva has dismissed the UN experts' statement, accusing them of spreading misinformation and supporting Hamas propaganda. However, the mission acknowledged that the latest IPC assessment determined that famine had not yet materialized, thanks to improved aid access. Israel has claimed that it has continuously scaled up its coordination and assistance in the delivery of humanitarian aid across the Gaza Strip, recently connecting its power line to the Gaza water desalination plant.
The ongoing conflict and the resulting famine have had a devastating impact on the people of Gaza, especially the children. Ghaneyma Joma, a mother in Khan Younis, told Reuters that she fears her son will die of starvation, saying, It's distressing to see my child ... lying there dying from malnutrition because I cannot provide him with anything due to the war, the closing of crossings and the contaminated water.
The situation in Gaza remains dire, with the UN experts warning that the famine has spread throughout the enclave, and the IPC assessment indicating that the crisis is far from over. The international community must urgently address this humanitarian catastrophe and hold Israel accountable for its actions. , , , [4]
