Six months into the Israel-Hamas war, the people of Gaza are facing a hunger crisis that the United Nations says borders on famine. The crisis in Gaza is entirely human-made, a result of Israel’s war on Hamas and a near-complete siege of the territory, aid experts say.
For years before the latest war, Gaza was subject to an Israeli blockade, backed by Egypt. Under the blockade, humanitarian aid, including food and commercial imports, was tightly restricted. After Hamas led a deadly attack on Israel, Israel imposed a siege and instituted much stricter controls on what could go into Gaza, stopping anything it believed could potentially benefit Hamas from entering.
The food shortages in Gaza have been exacerbated by Israel’s bombing of Gaza’s port, restricted fishing, and destruction of farms. Airstrikes and fighting have shattered Gaza’s infrastructure and forced almost all of its population to flee their homes, making it hard for families to feed themselves.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, an initiative of U.N. bodies and major relief agencies, said last month that famine was imminent in northern Gaza. The body declares a famine when at least 20 percent of households face an extreme lack of food, among other criteria.
Despite Gaza’s small size and urban nature, aid agencies have found it difficult to deliver aid due to the ongoing conflict. Critics of Israel’s actions in the war say that the hunger crisis is largely due to Israeli restrictions on aid deliveries.
President Biden has warned that the United States could withhold support for Israel if it does not ensure adequate aid deliveries and protect civilians. The international community has urged Israel to address the crisis quickly.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with the people facing a potential famine as a result of the ongoing conflict. The world is watching closely to see how Israel and Hamas will respond to the urgent humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
