GAZA CITY – Israeli forces are expanding their military operations in Gaza City, signalling a new phase of intensified ground offensives in the devastated urban landscape. This expansion coincides with the stark confirmation of famine conditions gripping Gaza City and surrounding areas, with further tragic reports emerging of Palestinians dying from hunger.
Official assessments by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a UN-backed global monitor, have officially declared famine in Gaza City. This grim milestone marks the first time famine has been confirmed in the Middle East region, painting a catastrophic picture of widespread starvation, destitution, and preventable deaths. The situation is dire, with over half a million people in Gaza now facing famine conditions, and projections indicating this crisis is set to spread to other population centers like Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis if current trends persist. The human cost is mounting daily, with reports indicating that two more Palestinians have succumbed to hunger in the last 24 hours, adding to the growing toll of starvation-related fatalities.
Israel Gaza Hunger Deaths Intensify Amidst Operational Expansion
Israeli military movements indicate a significant escalation, with troops operating on the outskirts of Gaza City and conducting intense bombardments in key neighborhoods such as Jabalya and Zeitoun. The stated objective is to dismantle Hamas strongholds within the urban center. However, humanitarian organizations warn that such an offensive carries a “horrific humanitarian impact” on an already exhausted and malnourished population. UN agencies have highlighted that civilians, weakened by hunger and displacement, are ill-equipped to endure further conflict. The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) has been critical, stating that “engineered scarcity has created a man-made famine” and that Israel has a duty to allow relief supplies, which remain systematically blocked.
The confirmation of famine is directly linked to Israel’s severe restrictions on humanitarian aid entering the Gaza Strip, particularly since March. Aid convoys have been consistently obstructed, leading to critical shortages of food, clean water, and essential medicines. This deliberate scarcity has exacerbated the crisis, pushing the population to the brink. Doctors in Gaza City are witnessing the devastating effects firsthand, with children suffering from severe acute malnutrition at alarming rates – nearly one in three children in Gaza City is now malnourished. The acceleration of child malnutrition is described as catastrophic.
Global Concern Over Israel Gaza Hunger Deaths and Blockades
International condemnation has been swift and widespread. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has labeled the situation a “man-made disaster” and a “failure of humanity itself,” emphasizing that “as the occupying power, Israel has unequivocal obligations under international law – including the duty of ensuring food and medical supplies of the population.” The UN Human Rights Chief, Volker Türk, has gone further, stating that the famine is the “direct result” of Israeli government policies and that using starvation as a method of warfare “may also amount to the war crime of willful killing.” Many nations and aid groups are intensifying their calls for an immediate ceasefire to allow unimpeded, large-scale humanitarian access and to mitigate further loss of life.
In response to the famine declarations and widespread international pressure, Israeli officials have largely rejected the findings. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has dismissed the reports as an “outright lie,” asserting that Israel “does not have a policy of starvation” but rather “a policy of preventing starvation.” Israeli authorities have accused Hamas of orchestrating a “false starvation campaign” and of looting humanitarian aid. Despite these denials, evidence gathered by numerous international bodies points to severe humanitarian access issues as a primary driver of the escalating crisis.
The unfolding events in Gaza City highlight a critical juncture in the ongoing conflict. As Israeli operations intensify, the humanitarian toll continues to rise, with famine and widespread starvation now undeniable realities. The global community watches, with many demanding decisive action to halt what many are calling a preventable catastrophe and to ensure the unimpeded flow of essential aid to those most in need, potentially through [ongoing humanitarian efforts](/gaza-humanitarian-aid/). The situation underscores the urgent need for [international calls for ceasefire](/ceasefire-negotiations/) to alleviate the suffering and prevent further loss of life in Gaza.
