Gaza( The COW News Digital)The United Nations has officially declared a state of famine in Gaza, warning of a catastrophic humanitarian crisis as food shortages and mass starvation worsen under continued blockade and conflict.
According to UN assessments, more than 500,000 Palestinians are currently enduring extreme hunger, with aid deliveries facing persistent obstructions. Officials described the situation as “unprecedented and life-threatening,” noting that malnutrition and starvation-related deaths are rising sharply.
The announcement marks the first formal declaration of famine in Gaza, underscoring the scale of the crisis. Amnesty International condemned the development as a “shameful failure of the international community and state institutions,” accusing world powers of turning a blind eye to human suffering.
“Today’s declaration exposes the world’s indifference. We have witnessed children die of hunger while food supplies sat only miles away,” Amnesty said in a statement, adding that history will not forgive global silence in the face of such tragedy.
The humanitarian crisis is compounded by ongoing Israeli military operations. In the past 24 hours alone, airstrikes reportedly killed 40 Palestinians, while two civilians died of starvation. The UN further confirmed that 71 Palestinians were killed in fresh attacks, bringing the total death toll since the start of Israeli assaults to 62,263, according to Arab media reports.
The worsening conditions have raised international alarm. Relief organizations warn that unless safe corridors for humanitarian aid are established immediately, the death toll from hunger could accelerate beyond casualties from the conflict itself. Aid trucks remain stalled at border points, with limited supplies unable to reach the most vulnerable populations trapped inside Gaza.
Diplomatic appeals for a ceasefire and humanitarian access have so far failed to yield significant progress. The UN has reiterated its calls for urgent action, stressing that famine is not a natural disaster but a man-made catastrophe caused by ongoing hostilities and blockades.
Analysts say the famine declaration could increase pressure on global leaders to act, but critics argue that condemnations without enforcement mechanisms have little impact. Meanwhile, Gaza’s civilians continue to face a deadly convergence of war and hunger, with no immediate relief in sight.
