Imminent Famine Threatens Northern Gaza Amid Military Offensive
International hunger experts have raised alarm bells, indicating a “strong likelihood” that famine is on the horizon for certain regions in northern Gaza, where Israeli forces are intensifying their military operations. The Famine Review Committee has characterized the situation in the northern part of the Strip as “extremely grave and rapidly deteriorating,” urging all parties involved in the conflict to take immediate action “within days, not weeks” to prevent a humanitarian disaster.
The statement emphasized that this urgent call to action is not solely directed at combatants but also at those who possess influence over them. Stephanie Tremblay, an Associate Spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, highlighted the critical nature of the situation: “The alert further underscores that the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip is dire and deteriorating rapidly. Immediate action is necessary from all who are directly engaged in the conflict or who have the power to influence its conduct, in order to avert and alleviate this catastrophic situation.”
The Famine Review Committee operates under the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a coalition of 15 UN agencies and other organizations dedicated to monitoring global hunger and food security. This recent alert follows an alarming report released in October, which stated that Palestinians across the entire territory are facing acute food insecurity.
The committee attributed the escalation of the crisis to several recent developments, such as Israel’s designation of northern Gaza as a combat zone and the orders issued for the entire population to evacuate. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have launched a renewed offensive in northern Gaza, asserting that the operation aims to prevent Hamas units from regrouping. They have advised residents in the north to relocate south to the already congested ‘humanitarian zone’ in al-Mawasi.
Earlier this month, the Biden administration intensified its criticism of Israel for failing to improve humanitarian conditions in Gaza, especially as a deadline loomed on November 13 for Israeli officials to meet specific requirements or face potential restrictions on military assistance. Matthew Miller, a spokesperson for the State Department, assigned Israel a ‘fail’ grade regarding its efforts to enhance aid delivery.
On Friday, Israel communicated to the US its intention to open a new aid crossing at Kissufim to facilitate the flow of aid into southern Gaza. However, in October, the Knesset passed legislation prohibiting the UN’s primary agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, from operating within Israel and the Palestinian territories. Israel has long accused UNRWA of overlooking the presence of Hamas militants among its staff and permitting the group to utilize its facilities for military purposes, allegations that UNRWA has consistently denied.
This decision has drawn widespread condemnation from the international community, including strong criticism from the European Union. The bloc’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, described the move as “disastrous,” emphasizing that UNRWA provides “life-saving services.” He stated, “The Agency, with its extensive network of warehouses and personnel, serves as the backbone of aid distribution in Gaza. Without it, civilians will lose their last remaining access to food, water, and medicine.”
The volume of aid entering Gaza has plummeted significantly since the escalation of hostilities in October. By the end of that month, UN figures indicated that an average of only 71 trucks per day were making their way into Gaza, while the US has expressed a desire to see a minimum of 350 trucks per day enter the territory.
