The entire population of Gaza faces a critical risk of famine, with half a million of them facing starvation, a global hunger monitor has said, calling this a major deterioration since its last report in October.
The latest assessment by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) analysed a period from 1 April to 10 May this year and projected the situation until the end of September, according to a summary of its key findings.
It said there had been a "major deterioration" in the food security situation since its last assessment in October 2024.
Israel has sealed off Gaza since early March when it resumed its devastating military campaign against militant group Hamas following the collapse of a ceasefire deal, during which aid agencies had delivered thousands of trucks of aid.
The IPC analysis found that 1.95 million people, or 93% of the population in the Israeli-blockaded Palestinian enclave, are living through high levels of acute food insecurity, including 244,000 experiencing the most severe, or "catastrophic", levels.
IPC's October analysis had said 133,000 people were in the "catastrophic" category.
The IPC analysis projected that 470,000 people, or 22% of the population, would fall into the catastrophic category by the end of September, with over a million more at "emergency" levels.
"Urgent action is needed to save lives and avert further starvation, further deaths and a descent into famine.
"Goods indispensable for people's survival are either depleted or expected to run out in the coming weeks. The entire population is facing high levels of acute food insecurity, with half a million people - one in five - facing starvation," it said.
The UN's Food and Agriculture Organization called for the "immediate" lifting of the blockade.
"Families in Gaza are starving while the food they need is sitting at the border," said the UN World Food Programme's executive director, Cindy McCain.
"It's imperative that the international community acts urgently to get aid flowing into Gaza again. If we wait until after a famine is confirmed, it will already be too late for many people."
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Israeli officials have said they do not believe Gaza faces a hunger crisis, that enough aid has entered to sustain the enclave's population, and that they want to stop supplies coming under the control of Hamas.
The IPC, in a brief accompanying its latest analysis, said a plan announced on 5 May by Israeli authorities for delivering aid was "estimated to be highly insufficient to meet the population's essential needs".
"The proposed distribution mechanisms are likely to create significant access barriers for large segments of the population," it added.
IPC analyses are produced with contributions from UN agencies and NGOs.
The warning of famine in Gaza comes as Israeli attacks continued.
At least 15 people sheltering in a school housing displaced families in Jabalia in the north of the enclave were killed in Israeli attacks overnight, local health authorities said, while at least 12 people were killed in Israeli attacks yesterday.
Israel, which launched its Gaza offensive after the 7 October, 2023 Hamas attacks,, approved plans last week at cabinet to expand the military operation, including the "conquest" of Gaza and the displacement of its population.
'Children of Gaza are starving' - UNRWA
Israel has enforced a complete blockade on Gaza since 2 March leaving its 2.3 million population depending on aid supplies that have been dwindling rapidly.
Director of Communications with the UN Agency for Palestinian Refugees Juliette Touma said the children of Gaza are starving as the Israeli blockade of aid entered its ninth week.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland, Ms Touma said that all aid UNRWA brings into Gaza is delivered directly to those that need it and allegations of Hamas stealing the aid is just a claim.
"When it comes to UNWRA, we bring aid and we deliver it directly to people in need. We have a system in place that also looks at any reports of aid diversion.
Listen: UNRWA official says children in Gaza are starving during Israeli blockade
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"If we get reports of aid diversion, we will look into them and launch investigations. I really encourage the international media to do much, much more to get into Gaza, to look into these claims."
UNICEF warned that Gaza's children face 'a growing risk of starvation'
Ms Touma said: "What needs to happen right now is for the siege to be lifted for the aid to flow in. People in Gaza have been for more than 18 years dependent on aid coming from outside."
She said she hopes that the release of a US hostage being held by Hamas will lead to aid being allowed into the area.
The Red Cross said last week that its humanitarian response is on the verge of collapse in Gaza while its director-general said that governments must act now to stop the horrors in Gaza.
