Israel ‘Catastrophically Intensifying’ Famine in Gaza As Aid Blockade Continues: Hamas
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas accused Israel of deliberately intensifying famine conditions in Gaza by enforcing a blockade that restricts humanitarian aid, while international organizations warn of imminent starvation in the besieged territory.
Hamas on Monday said Israel is intentionally working to “create famine and a worsening humanitarian catastrophe” in the Gaza Strip.
The Palestinian resistance group demanded an immediate end to the blockade and called for the entry of humanitarian aid “under UN supervision and free from any interference from the (Israeli) occupation.”
Hamas also rejected a joint US-Israeli initiative to establish a new aid foundation that would bypass the United Nations.
“The only entities authorized to manage and distribute aid are the relevant UN and governmental organizations, not the occupation or its agents,” the statement said.
Humanitarian agencies echoed this position, arguing the UN is best suited to coordinate aid delivery into Gaza.
Separately, food security experts warned that famine is imminent unless Israel lifts the blockade and halts its military campaign.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said in a report that full-scale famine is the most likely scenario unless conditions improve.
According to the IPC’s findings, nearly 500,000 Palestinians are experiencing “catastrophic” hunger levels, facing the risk of starvation, while about one million others are in an “emergency” state.
QU Dongyu, Director-General of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, said any delay in aid delivery was “bringing us closer to famine.”
“If we fail to act, we are failing to uphold the right to food, which is a basic human right,” QU said.
For the past 10 weeks, Israel has blocked the entry of food, medicine, and other essential supplies into Gaza, while continuing its airstrikes and ground operations.
Gaza’s 2.3 million residents are almost entirely dependent on aid, as the 19-month Israeli military campaign has decimated the territory’s food production capacity.
