Gaza City: Prime Minister Mohamed Mustafa declared the Gaza Strip a famine zone, holding the Israeli occupation fully responsible for the humanitarian crisis. During a press conference attended by the government’s emergency operations room, Mustafa urged the entire UN system to activate its mechanisms to address the dire situation.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA, Mustafa called on the international community to implement UN resolutions that prohibit using starvation as a weapon of war. He emphasized the need for urgent action by UN member states in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law, urging recognition of the catastrophe and famine in Gaza.
He affirmed the government’s commitment to confronting the aggression and famine and expressed the intention to collaborate with the international community to save lives and promote recovery and reconstruction.
The declaration of famine comes against the backdrop of reports from international and UN institutions, which highlight severe manifestations of hunger, thirst, and the dire conditions faced by emaciated children and displaced individuals in Gaza. The reports indicate a total collapse of supply chains, medical services, and a severe shortage of water and power, exacerbated by the ongoing Israeli blockade.
Mustafa pointed to the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) criteria, noting that 100% of Gaza’s population now suffers from acute food insecurity. He called on the UN Security Council, Secretary-General, and all UN member states to take immediate intervention measures, including lifting the blockade and ensuring the delivery of aid.
The Prime Minister also urged the UN system’s agencies like the World Food Programme, Food and Agriculture Organization, World Health Organization, and UNICEF to treat Gaza as a famine zone, necessitating urgent international intervention.
In his statement, Mustafa emphasized the need to protect the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) and to support its programs. He expressed gratitude for the international community’s stance against displacement and control mechanisms over aid distribution.
The declaration underscores the urgent need for international action to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and to work towards a sustainable resolution for the affected population.
