Gaza Faces Imminent Famine as Israeli Attacks and Blockade Continue, UN Warns

The Gaza Strip is facing an imminent famine by the end of May 2024 due to the ongoing Israeli attacks and blockade, according to a dire warning from the United Nations. The UN special rapporteur on the right to health, Tlaleng Mofokeng, has accused Israel of systematically working to starve the residents of Gaza and deprive them of their rights, stating that "Gaza is unequivocally witnessing genocide." "The health system in Gaza has been completely obliterated and the right to health has been decimated at every level," Mofokeng said.

Since the start of the Israeli offensive on October 7, over 34,000 Palestinians have been killed and vast areas of Gaza lie in ruins. Around 85% of Gaza's 2.3 million people have been displaced, and more than 14,000 children have lost their lives. The UN has documented more civilian casualties in Gaza in the past 6 months than in 8 years of the US-led campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria. At least 75,000 tons of explosives have been dropped on the densely populated enclave, destroying 62% of all houses and causing $18.5 billion in infrastructure damage.

Why this matters: The unfolding humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza threatens the lives of hundreds of thousands of civilians, including vulnerable children, and risks further destabilizing the region. The international community's failure to take decisive action to end the Israeli attacks and lift the blockade on Gaza raises serious questions about the commitment to protecting human rights and upholding international law.

The war has also devastated Gaza's healthcare system, with 350 healthcare professionals killed and only 10 of 36 hospitals minimally functional. The Government Media Office in Gaza has reported that famine is "deepening across the Gaza Strip to a great extent," claiming the lives of dozens of children due to hunger, malnutrition, and drought. UNICEF has warned that these deaths are "man-made, predictable, and entirely preventable."

Israel has barred the entry of food, water, medicine, and other supplies into Gaza, and aid groups have reported delays in their deliveries due to Israeli forces firing at their trucks. The U.S. has airdropped food bundles over Gaza, but a U.S. official has stated that the Biden administration is not expected to pressure Israel in a way that would actually help Gazans. The U.S. has also repeatedly vetoed UN Security Council resolutions calling for a ceasefire.

According to the UN, 1.1 million people, half of Gaza's pre-war population, are facing catastrophic food insecurity, with famine likely to occur in northern Gaza by May 2024 and potentially spread across the enclave by July. Human rights agencies have repeatedly warned that Israel's severe restrictions on aid entering Gaza mean that relief is barely trickling into the strip. "Israel has consistently denied aid convoys to northern Gaza, with the UN's agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA) reporting that Israeli authorities vetoed at least 27 out of 81 aid missions that required coordination in the north and south of the Gaza Strip between April 1 and April 19," the UN stated.

The death of 10-year-old Yazan al Kafarneh from severe malnutrition has become a symbol of the worsening crisis. Photos show the boy's emaciated appearance before he succumbed to hunger in a Gaza hospital. At least 10 other children have died due to dehydration and malnutrition in northern Gaza in recent days, according to medical officials. The international community has sharply criticized Israel for not doing enough to avoid harming civilians and aid workers trying to deliver humanitarian aid to the starving population. The International Court of Justice has issued provisional measures instructing Israel to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, but critics say Israel's pledges to improve the situation are "too little, too late " after months of refusing to let sufficient aid enter the territory.

Key Takeaways

• UN warns of imminent famine in Gaza by May 2024 due to Israeli attacks and blockade.
• Over 34,000 Palestinians killed, 85% displaced, and 14,000 children dead since Oct 2023.
• Gaza's healthcare system decimated, with 350 professionals killed and only 10 of 36 hospitals functional.
• 1.1 million Gazans face catastrophic food insecurity, with famine likely in northern Gaza by May 2024.
• International community criticized for failing to pressure Israel to lift blockade and allow aid entry.