Gaza City: The UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Michael Fakhri, stated that Israel has pushed Gaza into the "most dangerous stage of starvation," with effects that will endure for generations. He asserted that the situation in the Gaza Strip amounts to "genocide, starvation, a crime against humanity, and a gross violation of human rights."
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Fakhri, in a press statement on Thursday, elaborated on the developments over the past months of conflict, indicating that Israel's actions in the Gaza Strip reveal a plan aimed at inflicting maximum damage and fatalities with the objective of occupying and annexing the territory.
Fakhri emphasized that Israel's intentions were clear from the onset of the conflict, addressing the continuous escalation of violence and the use of starvation as a weapon, which was publicly acknowledged by Israel on October 9, 2023. He highlighted that Israel has obstructed or attacked humanitarian aid convoys, leading to the current perilous phase of the starvation campaign.
The UN rapporteur noted that while a small number of aid trucks have been permitted entry into Gaza, they are grossly insufficient to meet the needs of the population. He underscored the challenges in assessing the full scope of the crisis due to restricted access for international journalists and aid workers, suggesting that the real situation is likely worse than reported.
Fakhri reiterated the international recognition of the crisis, mentioning the International Court of Justice's acknowledgment of genocide risks and the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants for Israeli leaders, including the use of starvation as a war tactic. He called for an urgent allowance of humanitarian aid into Gaza to address the dire needs of its people.
