The leader of the World Food Program, Cindy McCain, stated that parts of the Gaza Strip are facing a “full-blown famine” after almost seven months of war, making aid delivery extremely challenging. She mentioned that there is famine in the north of Gaza and it is spreading south. While an official famine declaration has not been made, the situation is dire based on what has been observed on the ground. Aid has been flowing into the northern region following global pressure on Israel to improve conditions there.
Negotiations for a cease-fire and the release of hostages continue in Cairo, with Hamas officials participating in discussions. The Israeli government awaits Hamas’s response to a cease-fire proposal, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasizing that the only obstacle to a cease-fire is Hamas. Efforts are being made to reach an agreement, but discussions may be prolonged and complex.
An official declaration of famine is made by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a United Nations agency, and the government of the country experiencing the famine. In Gaza, it is unclear who has the authority to make such a declaration. The conflict in Gaza has created a human-made hunger crisis, with Israel’s restrictions and bombardments exacerbating the situation. Although aid has increased recently, it is still insufficient.
Israel imposed a strict siege on Gaza for three weeks at the beginning of the conflict, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis. The Israeli military destroyed Gaza’s port, restricted fishing, and bombed farms. Israel later loosened the siege but implemented strict inspections to prevent weapons from entering the territory. Aid groups and diplomats accuse Israel of creating obstacles to aid delivery, and the United Nations has raised concerns about potential war crimes.
The use of starvation as a weapon is a violation of international humanitarian law and constitutes a war crime. Concerns have been raised about potential arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court against Israeli and Hamas officials over the delivery of aid to Gaza. Israel denies placing limitations on aid, while U.S. and U.N. officials believe that conditions remain life-threatening for many Gazans, especially children. The reopening of the Erez border crossing has eased aid delivery, but more efforts are needed to address the crisis.
Foreign officials and aid agencies acknowledge some improvements in aid flow, but stress the need for further action. Conditions in Gaza, particularly in northern areas, remain challenging, with some commodities unavailable or sold at high prices. While progress has been made in aid delivery, more support is required to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
