The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), an international agency that monitors food security conditions, has revealed that nearly half a million people out of Gaza’s 2.3 million population are facing hunger. In a report released by the agency, it stated that if access to food and humanitarian aid continues to be obstructed for Gaza’s residents, within the next four months, about half a million people in the enclave will face extreme difficulty in obtaining enough food to survive. This could lead to widespread hunger and a high risk of mass starvation deaths.
The Israeli military is obstructing the entry of food and humanitarian aid into Gaza, with food and humanitarian aid into Gaza, with the full support and cooperation of US President Donald Trump. On March 2, the Israeli forces occupying Gaza tightened the blockade and halted the entry of food and humanitarian supplies. Additionally, they have blocked the import of medical supplies and equipment, as well as fuel needed to run power plants and generators.
The IPC, which monitors Gaza’s food security situation, said that the condition of Gaza’s residents has worsened since last October. The Israeli blockade has created additional obstacles for the enclave’s residents in obtaining sufficient food for survival. The agency made this statement at a time when other international organizations are also revealing the increased suffering of Gaza’s people.
2.1 million at risk of hunger
The IPC stated that within the next four months, about 2.1 million people in Gaza’s population will face difficulties in obtaining food. Furthermore, over 469,500 people will have no access to food at all and will face starvation. The international community has been stating that deliberately starving Gaza’s residents is a tactic of war used by Israeli forces and constitutes a war crime under international humanitarian law.
In an effort to further impoverish Gaza’s residents, Zionist extremist Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is working to bring the distribution of food and humanitarian aid under Israeli military control. This is part of a plan devised with Trump’s approval. The aim is to starve and kill as many Gaza residents as possible.
The Israeli proposal involves forcibly relocating all residents living in northern Gaza to six large camps or prisons to be established in the south of the enclave. They plan to set up four aid distribution centers in that area and bring all aid distribution work under Israeli military supervision. The security of these facilities is to be assigned to two American companies. Under the Israeli plan, only one person per family will be allowed to go to the aid distribution centers.
UN and international community oppose Israeli plan
The IPC said the Israeli plan is not feasible. Under this proposal, “Gaza’s residents will not receive the food, water, shelter and medicine they desperately need,” the agency said. “The new proposed aid distribution system will close off all avenues for some Gaza residents to obtain food. Immediate steps need to be taken to prevent more [starvation] deaths and save people from malnutrition and starvation,” the agency stated.
The criteria for determining if a land or country’s population is facing starvation include 20% of people not having access to enough food for survival. It also includes one in three children in the population suffering from malnutrition. Additionally, two out of every 10,000 deaths should be due to starvation from lack of food.
The IPC report states that between April 2025 and March 2026, 71,000 children in Gaza will face malnutrition due to lack of nutritious food. Of these, about 41,100 children’s condition will become serious. This is expected to affect children between six months and five years of age, the IPC warned. The agency’s report was compiled with the assistance of relevant United Nations agencies and civil society organizations.
