For the first time ever, an official famine is set to be declared in Gaza City.
The UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), which has monitored global hunger since 2004, has previously declared famine only four times, including last year in Sudan.
While the IPC had previously warned of looming famine in Gaza, it had stopped short of a formal declaration — until now.
The announcement is expected Friday morning for Gaza City, home to around 500,000 people, marking a grim milestone in a conflict that has left the population on the brink of disaster.
The Stark Reality on the Ground
The Israeli government has consistently denied that famine exists in Gaza, even as its forces move deeper into Gaza City — the final major urban stronghold of Hamas.
Israel Defence Forces spokesperson Brigadier General Effie Defrin confirmed that the outskirts of the city are now under Israeli control.
For a famine to be officially declared, three strict criteria must be met: at least 20% of households must face extreme food shortages, 30% of children must suffer acute malnutrition, and at least two deaths per 10,000 people per day must result from outright starvation.
According to a briefing seen by The Telegraph, these thresholds are now being met in Gaza City and surrounding areas.
Half a Million People Facing Catastrophe
The IPC briefing reportedly states: “After 22 months of relentless conflict, over half a million people in the Gaza Strip are facing catastrophic conditions, characterised by starvation, destitution and death.”
The famine is expected to spread to the governorates of Deir Al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September, while another 1.07 million residents — more than half of Gaza’s population — are currently at “emergency” levels of food insecurity.
Children and Starvation: A Crisis Intensifies
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry reports that 271 people have already died from starvation, including 112 children, with over half of these deaths occurring in the past three weeks alone.
UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric confirmed that rates of starvation and malnutrition are now at their highest since the Israel-Hamas conflict began.
In July, nearly 12,000 children under five were diagnosed with acute malnutrition, including over 2,500 in the most severe, life-threatening category.
The World Health Organization warns these numbers likely understate the full scale of the crisis.
Contradictions from Leaders
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly insisted that no one in Gaza is starving, claiming there is no deliberate policy of deprivation.
In contrast, U.S. President Donald Trump, when shown images of emaciated children, expressed disbelief at Netanyahu’s statement, saying: “Based on television, I would say not particularly because those children look very hungry.”
Limited Aid and Military Escalation
Israel has recently allowed roughly three times more food into Gaza than what had been entering since late May.
This comes after a 2.5-month blockade during which all food, medicine, and essential supplies were barred in an attempt to pressure Hamas over hostages taken during its October 2023 attacks.
Meanwhile, Israel has called up 60,000 reservists, with plans to increase active forces to around 120,000 in September.
Military operations are already underway in the Jabalia and Zeitoun districts around Gaza City, signaling a push to seize the densely populated urban centre despite warnings from the international community about the potential displacement of countless civilians.
Settlement Controversies Add Tension
The conflict comes alongside heightened tensions over Israeli settlement projects.
An Israeli ambassador to the UK recently told the Foreign Office not to “tell us where to build in Jerusalem” following criticism from Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
Lammy condemned plans for the controversial E1 settlement, warning it would divide a potential Palestinian state and undermine a two-state solution.
Despite international criticism, an Israeli defence ministry committee approved plans for around 3,400 homes in E1, a tract of land east of Jerusalem that has been under consideration for more than 20 years.
Settlement construction in the West Bank is widely considered illegal under international law and remains a significant obstacle to peace.
A Humanitarian Crisis With No End in Sight
As Gaza faces its first officially declared famine, the world watches a population trapped between starvation, conflict, and political disputes.
With food, medical supplies, and basic essentials in critically short supply, the coming weeks will determine the scale of this humanitarian catastrophe — and whether international pressure can make a meaningful difference.
