The UN’s UNRWA warns Gaza faces a “critical risk” of famine due to Israel’s prolonged blockade, with 470,000 Gazans (22% of the population) in “Phase 5 – catastrophe” (IPC classification).
71,000 children and 17,000 mothers require urgent malnutrition treatment; starvation deaths could soon outpace bombing casualties.
Israel’s plan to displace civilians into smaller zones (e.g., Rafah) and restrict aid has drawn condemnation from the UN and aid groups.
Philippe Lazzarini (UNRWA chief) accuses Israel of “weaponising humanitarian aid,” calling it a potential war crime.
Israeli officials openly admit using the blockade as a “pressure lever” against Hamas, sparking backlash from hostage families and dissident military reservists.
IPC reports confirm 100% of Gaza’s 2.3 million people face acute food insecurity.
UNRWA Sounds Alarm: Gaza’s Famine Crisis Deepens
The United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has issued a dire warning: Gaza is on the brink of famine, with Israel’s blockade crippling access to food, water, and medical supplies. Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA’s commissioner-general, stated that
starvation is now spreading faster than bombs, calling the crisis a “weaponization of humanitarian aid.”
The entire population of the Gaza Strip continues facing a critical risk of famine following 19 months of conflict, mass displacement, and severe restrictions on humanitarian aid. Families like Um Al Abed’s have been displaced multiple times and can no longer meet their essential… pic.twitter.com/aDiqv4hINm
Is Israel’s blockade a war crime? UNRWA’s Lazzarini asserts Israel’s aid restrictions meet the criteria of a war crime, citing intentional civilian suffering. The ICJ is investigating genocide allegations.
The Human Toll of the Blockade According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a UN-backed authority on famine, 470,000 Gazans are in “Phase 5” – the highest level of food emergency, marked by “extreme lack of food, destitution, and death.” Nearly half of Gaza’s population are children, with 71,000 urgently needing malnutrition treatment. Despite thousands of aid trucks stranded at Egypt’s border, Israel’s restrictions and proposed private security-led distribution plans have stalled deliveries.
Lazzarini, in a London interview, emphasized that Gaza’s civilians are “constant pinballs,” forcibly displaced repeatedly since the war began. Over 70% of Gaza is now uninhabitable, with Israel pushing survivors into Rafah’s ruins. “People will die not from bombardment but from hunger,” he warned.
Political Strategy or War Crime? Israeli officials have framed the blockade as a tactical tool. Defense Minister Israel Katz called it a “main pressure lever” to free hostages and defeat Hamas, while National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir argued resuming aid before Hamas surrenders would be a “historic mistake.” These statements have drawn sharp rebukes from international bodies, with South Africa accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Lazzarini stopped short of using the term “genocide” but acknowledged “massive atrocities” and systematic destruction of schools and hospitals. “By any account, the destruction is massive… Genocide? It could end up [as] genocide,” he said.
Internal Israeli Dissent Netanyahu’s planned military escalation – timed after Donald Trump’s Gulf tour – has divided Israel. Families of hostages accuse the government of prioritising territorial gains over their loved ones’ lives. The Hostages and Missing Families Forum condemned Katz’s strategy as an “illusion,” while 1,200 air force reservists signed a letter accusing Netanyahu of prolonging the war for “political survival.”
Media Blackout and Humanitarian Paralysis With international journalists barred from Gaza, Palestinian reporters risk their lives to document the crisis. Over 200 journalists have been killed since October 2023. Aid groups, denied eyewitness access, rely on data like IPC reports to highlight Gaza’s suffering. The UN rejects Israel’s claim that Hamas diverts aid, calling it a pretext to justify restrictions.
How many children are at risk of starvation in Gaza? Over 71,000 children require urgent treatment for acute malnutrition, per IPC data.Why is aid not reaching Gaza? Israel blocks deliveries, citing security concerns, while the UN rejects its proposal for militarised aid distribution.
