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SvennoJ on 23 July 2025
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What is famine and why has it not officially been declared in Gaza?

Famine refers to extreme and widespread shortages of food that result in malnutrition, starvation and even death.

It is formally declared by governments in affected areas as well as by UN agencies.

According to the UN’s criteria, famine is declared when:

  • At least 20 percent (one-fifth) of households face extreme food shortages
  • More than 30 percent of children suffer from acute malnutrition
  • At least two out of every 10,000 people or four out of every 10,000 children die each day from starvation or hunger-related causes.

While local authorities in Gaza and individual human rights experts at the UN have said the situation in the besieged enclave – where at least 15 people died of hunger on Tuesday alone – amounts to a famine, there has been no formal declaration yet.

Analysts say this could be because Israel has severely limited access to the Gaza Strip, making it difficult for bodies that would usually formally declare a famine to collect and analyse the relevant data.

But Moncef Khane, a former UN official, writing for Al Jazeera, says political and personal considerations could be at play, including worries of action by the US, Israel’s staunchest ally.

Washington has already imposed sanctions on UN expert Francesca Albanese for her criticism of Israel, as well as the International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor Karim Khan for seeking an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on allegations of war crimes in Gaza, including using starvation as a weapon of war.


People queue to receive rare hot meals in Gaza City

It's not deliberate starvation / famine like it's not a genocide like it's not ethnic cleansing. Do not believe your eyes.

Number of people starved to death in Gaza rises to 111: Ministry

Ten new deaths linked to famine and malnutrition have been recorded during the past 24 hours by hospitals in the Gaza Strip, according to the enclave’s Health Ministry.

The count brings the total number of people starved to death in the territory to 111, the statement published on Telegram said.


Number of journalists killed in Gaza rises to 231: Media Office

Gaza’s Government Media Office has announced the Israeli killing of two Palestinian journalists, Tamer al-Za’anin and Walaa al-Jabari, raising the number of media workers killed in the enclave since October 2023 to 231.

The statement published on Telegram said al-Za’anin was a photojournalist with various media organisations, while al-Jabari worked as a newspaper editor with several media outlets.

“The Government Media Office condemns in the strongest terms the systematic targeting, killing and assassination of Palestinian journalists by the ‘Israeli’ occupation,” it said.