The question is no longer whether Palestinians will starve to death in a famine, but how many will do so. Famine is imminent in northern Gaza, a coalition of UN agencies and aid groups has warned. Others say that it has already arrived: because mortality is one measure for establishing famine, it can only be declared once deaths have already mounted. According to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, the entire population is facing high levels of acute food insecurity or worse – an unprecedented level for any area or country – with many of those in “catastrophic” need. Families are eating animal feed and grass, and drinking dirty water.
No natural disaster has occurred; this is an entirely human-made famine, resulting from Israel’s military offensive in response to the Hamas atrocities on 7 October, and the curbs on aid. Josep Borrell, the EU foreign affairs chief, has accused Israel of using starvation as a weapon of war. On Tuesday, the UN human rights office said that the restrictions on aid might amount to a war crime.
