Palestinian populace faces imminent risk of malnutrition, according to official standards.

Palestinian populace faces imminent risk of malnutrition, according to official standards.

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The Gaza Strip is currently experiencing severe food insecurity with conditions that meet or exceed two of the three internationally recognized famine thresholds. This alarming situation has been confirmed by the Independent Experts of the Famine Review Committee, who have warned that without swift and coordinated action, a famine is inevitable in the region.

Famines, as recognized by the IPC initiative, are rare and extreme events, with criteria including at least 20% of households in a region experiencing extreme food shortages, at least 30% of children suffering from acute malnutrition, and at least two daily deaths from hunger or malnutrition-related diseases per 10,000 inhabitants.

In the Gaza Strip, according to IPC estimates, 39 percent of the residents have to go without a single meal for several days. Moreover, malnutrition—especially among children under five—has sharply increased, with Gaza City children under five experiencing a quadrupling of malnutrition rates to 16.5% in just two months.

The situation is further exacerbated by the destruction of infrastructure and access limitations. About 70% of Gaza’s infrastructure is destroyed, with less than 15% of essential nutrition services functional. Severe restrictions on humanitarian aid have also contributed to the crisis.

Over 154 malnutrition-related deaths have occurred since October 2023, including 89 children. A significant number of these deaths, 63, occurred in July alone.

UN agencies, including FAO, WFP, UNICEF, WHO, and OCHA, have described the situation as a historic emergency, with the worst-case famine scenario unfolding. They emphasize the urgent need for a full-scale humanitarian response.

Despite these warnings, famine has not formally been declared due to incomplete data on hunger-related deaths. However, the risk remains grave, and immediate humanitarian access and conflict cessation are emphasized as essential to preventing further deterioration.

The IPC, an international initiative involving governments, UN organizations, NGOs, and other partners, aims to reliably assess food crises. In the past 15 years, they have confirmed four famines: in 2011 in Somalia, in 2017 and 2020 in South Sudan, and most recently in 2024 in Sudan.

The Famine Review Committee, consisting of independent experts, reviews the data and assessments of the IPC and can make recommendations for a possible official declaration of a famine. However, the final decision lies with governments or authorized institutions such as UN representatives.

It is crucial to note that Israel has previously criticized IPC reports highlighting the risk of an impending famine in the Gaza Strip, stating there is no famine in the region. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has recently stated that there is no policy of starvation in the Gaza Strip and no hunger in the region.

However, the evidence from the IPC, UN agencies, and the Famine Review Committee paints a starkly different picture. The Gaza Strip is on the brink of a famine, with catastrophic food security and nutrition conditions, widespread starvation, and a humanitarian crisis unprecedented in recent history. Immediate action is needed to prevent a catastrophe.

[1] Famine Review Committee Report on Gaza Strip, 2025 [2] IPC Analysis on Gaza Strip, 2025 [3] UN Agencies Joint Report on Gaza Strip, 2025 [4] Gaza Strip Humanitarian Situation Report, 2025

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