GAZA CITY — A United Nations–backed food security panel declared famine in Gaza City, affecting over half a million people.
At the same time, Israel pressed ahead with preparations for a major military offensive in the area, which many international observers and rights groups argue that the scale of the military campaign, combined with the blockade and displacement of civilians, resembles an occupation in practice.
Famine declared
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), a global authority on hunger crises, confirmed that Gaza City now meets the thresholds for famine, with more than 514,000 residents facing “catastrophic conditions” of starvation, destitution, and imminent death. The declaration marks the first time famine has been recorded in the Middle East.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called the announcement “a man-made disaster, a moral indictment and a failure of humanity”. UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy described it as a “moral outrage,” while Amnesty International said the crisis amounted to deliberate starvation, warning it could constitute genocide.
Aid organizations stressed that the famine is driven by conflict, mass displacement, collapsed food systems, and restrictions on humanitarian access. The Washington Post reported that humanitarian agencies now fear thousands more deaths unless aid corridors are opened immediately.
Israeli military buildup
At the same time, Israel has called up 60,000 reservists and launched Operation Gideon’s Chariots II, which officials described as a decisive campaign to seize Gaza City from Hamas. The offensive began earlier this week in neighborhoods including Sabra and Shuja’iyya and has since expanded into Zeitoun and Jabalia.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that Gaza City could be “destroyed” unless Hamas disarms and releases remaining hostages. Euronews reported that Katz compared the operation to previous assaults on Rafah and Beit Hanoun. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defended the military push as necessary but dismissed the famine declaration as “an outright lie.”
Humanitarian concerns
The UN’s relief chief, Philippe Lazzarini, warned that malnourished children are unlikely to survive continued displacements and bombardments, while Al Jazeera reported new starvation-related deaths in the past 24 hours. Amnesty International condemned the overlap of famine and offensive, urging states to intervene, lift the blockade, and ensure humanitarian access.
Without immediate large-scale intervention, humanitarian officials say the famine could deepen and spread to other parts of Gaza. The United Nations Security Council is expected to convene in the coming days to address both the famine declaration and Israel’s military campaign. Global pressure for a ceasefire and unrestricted aid access is mounting, but the conflict shows no signs of abating.
Israel faces genocide accusations
Alongside the famine declaration and ongoing offensive, Israel is facing heightened allegations of genocide at international forums. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is already hearing a case brought by South Africa that accuses Israel of committing acts of genocide in Gaza. Amnesty International and other rights groups have cited the latest famine confirmation as further evidence of policies amounting to the deliberate starvation of civilians.
Legal experts told Al Jazeera that the declaration could strengthen arguments that Israel’s military and political leadership bear responsibility for grave breaches of international law. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the accusations, calling them politically motivated, while Israeli officials maintain the operations target Hamas, not civilians.
The ICJ is expected to issue interim rulings later this year. However, enforcement of any potential finding would depend on the United Nations Security Council, where divisions between member states have stalled previous resolutions.
