On Wednesday, the United Nations (UN) Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People called for urgent international action to end the worsening Israeli-caused famine in the Gaza Strip, considering that what is happening is not the result of a natural disaster but a systematic policy practiced by Israel against more than two million besieged people.

In a statement published on its website, the committee said that more than half a million people are facing starvation and death in Gaza, noting that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating day by day as the near-total destruction caused by bombing and suffocating siege spreads.

The committee strongly condemned what it described as a policy of “starvation as a weapon of war,” stressing that it constitutes a flagrant violation of international law and calling on states to fulfill their legal obligations and take immediate action to stop this catastrophe. It also stressed the need for an immediate and permanent ceasefire, ensuring unimpeded access for humanitarian aid to all areas of the Strip, and holding those responsible for obstructing relief efforts and targeting civilians accountable.

Warnings in the UN Security Council

The same concerns were echoed at a UN Security Council meeting on the situation in the Middle East, where Ramez Al-Akbarov, Deputy UN Coordinator for the Peace Process, and Joyce Musoya, Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, expressed “grave concern” about the spreading famine and humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza.

Al-Akbarov said that the sector was “sinking deeper and deeper into a catastrophic situation” with rising civilian casualties, mass displacement, and severe hunger. He explained that the results of the latest food security analyses confirmed that a famine was indeed underway, while Israel’s decision to take complete control of Gaza on August 8 had led to “another deadly escalation” against the population.

The UN official noted that Israeli shelling is now targeting tents for displaced persons, schools, hospitals, and residential buildings, compounding the suffering of civilians who cannot find shelter or safe food.

For her part, Masuya warned that more than 500,000 people are currently facing severe hunger, destitution, and death, with the number expected to exceed 640,000 by the end of September if the situation continues as it is. She added:

This famine is not the result of drought or natural disaster, but a catastrophe created by a bloody conflict that has left thousands dead and wounded and caused widespread destruction and mass displacement.

Tight siege and deliberate starvation

Since 2 March, Israel has closed all Gaza crossings and allowed only a very small number of trucks loaded with aid to enter, which the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has described as a dangerous acceleration in the pace of famine.

According to the UN committee, what Gaza is experiencing today is a “man-made disaster” that will only end with a political decision to end the siege and bombing and restore civilians’ right to life and dignity.

Featured image via the Canary