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. However, 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, forcing almost all of its population to flee their homes. This displacement, along with the destruction of businesses and a surge in prices, has made it hard for families to feed themselves.
The United Nations and aid groups have a precise definition of famine, and Samantha Power, the head of the U.S. Agency for International Development, said that a famine was underway in northern Gaza. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification has not declared a famine in Gaza but said that one was imminent in the north.
Despite Gaza being small and mostly urban, aid agencies have found it difficult to operate due to the ongoing conflict. There is a sharp disagreement between the U.N. and the Israeli government about how much aid is entering Gaza each day, with aid organizations saying they need better access, particularly to northern Gaza.
Critics of the way Israel is conducting the war say that the hunger crisis derives largely from Israeli restrictions on aid deliveries. Israeli officials claim they have placed no limits on aid flow into Gaza and blame the U.N. for failing to distribute aid effectively.
Governments around the world have urged Israel to address the crisis quickly, with President Biden warning that the United States could withhold support for Israel if adequate aid deliveries and civilian protection are not ensured. Israel has taken steps to address the crisis, but more action is needed to prevent a full-blown famine in Gaza.
