The IPC, the international organization responsible for monitoring global hunger, has officially declared a famine in Gaza City for the first time. The IPC had previously warned of a famine in parts of Gaza, but had not yet issued an official statement.

For a famine to be officially declared, three strict criteria must be met: at least 20 percent of families face extreme food shortages, at least 30 percent of children suffer from acute malnutrition, and 2 in 10,000 people die every day from"pure starvation."

“After 22 months of relentless conflict, more than half a million people in the Gaza Strip are living in catastrophic conditions, characterised by starvation, deprivation and death,” the IPC briefing said.

According to the IPC, which is supported by the United Nations, the famine is currently affecting 500,000 residents of Gaza City. If the situation continues, Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis will also be affected by the end of next month. This is the first time the organization has officially declared a famine in the Middle East.

UN:"Sadness and anger"

In an emotional response, Tom Fletcher, UN aid coordinator at OCHA, urged everyone to read the report"from start to finish."

Read it with sadness and anger. Not as words and numbers, but as names and lives. Be assured: this is irrefutable proof. This is a famine. The Gaza famine.

A famine that could have been prevented if we had been allowed in. While food piles up at the borders due to Israel's systematic obstruction. A famine, just a few hundred meters from food, in a fertile land.

It is too late for many people, but not for everyone in Gaza

Tom Fletcher, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator at the United Nations (OCHA)

My call, my plea, my demand to Prime Minister Netanyahu and everyone who can reach him: Enough! Ceasefire! Open the crossings – north and south. Every single one. Let us bring in food and other aid unhindered and on the massive scale required. Stop the retaliation. For many people, it's already too late. But not yet for everyone in Gaza.

LOOK AT

Tom Fletcher:"This is a famine that could have been avoided."

LOOK AT

Israel responds: "Lies"

Aid organizations have been warning for months that Israel's blockade of food and other relief supplies, combined with the military offensives, is leading to extreme food shortages and malnutrition among Palestinian civilians, including many children. The famine is the result of the ongoing fighting, the blockade of aid, massive displacement, and the collapse of food production.

The report shows that more than half a million people, about a quarter of Gaza's population, are facing catastrophic food shortages, with many at risk of death from malnutrition and related diseases.

The Israeli government denies there is a famine. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calls the reports"lies" allegedly spread by Hamas. Although Israel announced additional aid after the publication of images of emaciated children, the UN and Palestinians in Gaza say the aid provided is still far below the necessary amount.

The Israeli military authority responsible for allowing aid, COGAT, rejected the IPC report, calling it"false and biased." According to COGAT, significant steps have been taken in recent weeks to increase the amount of aid entering Gaza.