Gaza Faces Worst-Case Famine, Experts Warn Urgency/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Leading food crisis experts now warn that Gaza is facing the worst-case scenario of famine, with widespread starvation already underway. Despite limited Israeli humanitarian pauses, aid efforts remain chaotic and insufficient. Without urgent large-scale action, analysts say the death toll from hunger will rise rapidly across the war-torn territory.
Gaza Famine Crisis Quick Looks
- Gaza’s hunger crisis has reached a “deadly turning point,” say global food experts
- IPC alert predicts widespread death without immediate, large-scale intervention
- Images of malnourished children fuel international outcry, intensifying pressure on Israel
- Israel has begun 10-hour daily humanitarian pauses and limited airdrops
- UN and aid groups say conditions have not improved meaningfully
- Gaza hospitals report spike in hunger-related deaths in children under 5
- 17% of Gaza City children under 5 suffer from acute malnutrition
- 1 in 3 Gazans goes without food for days at a time
- Israel insists “no starvation” and blames Hamas looting aid
- Trump and European leaders contradict Israel, urge more food access
- Doctors Without Borders: Airdrops are “ineffective and dangerous”
- Aid convoys face looting, chaos, and Israeli restrictions
Deep Look: Gaza’s Worst-Case Famine Scenario Now Unfolding, Global Experts Warn
TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Gaza is in the grip of what food crisis experts are calling the “worst-case scenario of famine,” with an urgent global alert warning of widespread starvation and death unless action is taken immediately. The new assessment, issued Tuesday by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), underscores the severity of a crisis that has steadily worsened over nearly two years of war.
Though the IPC stopped short of issuing a formal famine declaration — a designation that requires extensive data — it made clear that Gaza is experiencing the functional equivalent of famine conditions.
“This is famine,” said Alex de Waal, famine scholar and executive director of the World Peace Foundation, adding that visual symptoms and field reports are more than sufficient to diagnose the crisis.
The Famine Criteria — and Gaza’s Reality
To declare famine, three conditions must be met:
- 20% or more of households face extreme food shortages
- 30% of children under 5 are acutely malnourished
- At least 2 adults or 4 children per 10,000 die each day from hunger or disease tied to malnutrition
According to the IPC, Gaza has met or exceeded two of these thresholds. In Gaza City, 17 out of every 100 children under five are suffering from acute malnutrition. Reports from hospitals and aid agencies show increasing hunger-related deaths and the collapse of basic health infrastructure.
“The crisis has reached an alarming and deadly turning point,” the report said, based on data through July 25.
Conditions on the Ground: “Widespread Starvation”
In Gaza, scenes of desperation play out daily. Crowds of starving residents scramble to intercept delivery trucks before aid can reach distribution points. UN agencies and local groups report that one-third of Gaza’s 2.2 million residents are going days without food.
Hospitals are overwhelmed with undernourished children, and parents like Naima Abu Ful — pictured holding her skeletal 2-year-old son, Yazan, in Gaza City — are growing increasingly desperate.
“We have nothing left to give,” she told reporters.
Despite Israeli claims that adequate aid is being allowed in, groups such as Doctors Without Borders describe the situation as dire. Airdrops, launched by Israel in response to criticism, have been labeled “ineffective and dangerous” and unable to replace the consistent delivery of aid by truck.
Israeli Restrictions, Policy Shifts, and Global Pushback
Throughout the war, Israel has restricted aid, especially during high-intensity periods. In March, Israel halted the entry of all food, fuel, and medicine in an effort to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages. Though some restrictions were eased in May, the delivery of aid remains chaotic, with limited access routes, looting, and military controls continuing to hinder operations.
While Israel says there is no official limit on aid trucks, UN officials argue that the humanitarian corridors remain unsafe, under-resourced, and frequently blocked. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has denied claims of famine, asserting that enough aid is flowing to Gaza and dismissing accusations as “false”.
But that narrative is no longer universally accepted.
President Donald Trump, speaking Monday, contradicted Netanyahu, saying: “Those children look very hungry. That’s real starvation stuff.” His comments aligned with statements by European leaders, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who called the situation in Gaza “a catastrophe.”
Historical Context: Famine Rare, but Gaza Qualifies
Famine declarations are rare. The IPC has invoked the term only in extreme cases, including:
- Somalia (2011)
- South Sudan (2017 and 2020)
- Darfur region of Sudan (2024)
Experts argue that the lack of access and mobility in Gaza has made it difficult to collect the necessary data for a formal declaration, but that does not negate the visible evidence.
“We don’t need a lab test to see the symptoms,” said de Waal. “This is famine — and it’s man-made.”
Calls for Urgent Global Action
The IPC’s alert concludes with a stark warning: “Failure to act now will result in widespread death in much of the strip.” The organization calls for immediate, large-scale humanitarian intervention, including:
- Full access to Gaza for aid convoys
- Protection of delivery routes from military interference
- A ceasefire to enable sustained food and medical distribution
In the meantime, the children of Gaza continue to bear the brunt of war, blockade, and political impasse — their emaciated bodies standing as silent evidence of a crisis that the world can no longer ignore.
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