A report asserting that famine conditions exist in parts of Gaza has ignited a debate concerning the situation within the territory.
The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) issued a report on Friday, stating for the first time that the Gaza Governorate is undergoing a famine. Concurrently, Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis are facing a severe crisis. The severity of conditions in Northern Gaza is believed to be comparable to, or worse than, those in the Gaza Governorate. The IPC report does not cover the situation in Rafah, as it is largely regarded as having been depopulated.
The IPC, an initiative supported by the U.N. and comprising U.N. agencies, NGOs, and technical experts, is broadly recognized as the international benchmark for categorizing food crises.
Israel has strongly rejected the report’s conclusions, with the Prime Minister’s office labeling it “an outright lie.” Additionally, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oren Marmorstein asserted that the report was “tailor-made,” relying on “Hamas lies laundered through organizations with vested interests,” and refuted the existence of a famine in Gaza.
“Israel does not pursue a policy of starvation; rather, it aims to prevent starvation,” the prime minister’s office stated in an X thread that presented Israeli data pertaining to the Gaza situation.
Marmorstein further alleged that the IPC “distorted its own regulations and disregarded its established criteria solely to fabricate baseless accusations against Israel.”
The IPC’s report from August 22 projected that the famine would spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September, affecting 641,000 people. It also forecasted an increase to 1.14 million people in IPC Phase 4 (emergency) conditions, with 198,000 people experiencing crisis.
In its recommendations, the IPC advocates for an immediate ceasefire, assurance of unconditional and safe humanitarian access, protection of civilian infrastructure, and large-scale .
Following the report’s release, U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres criticized Israel on X.
“This is no enigma — it constitutes a man-made catastrophe, a moral condemnation, and a failing of humanity itself. Famine extends beyond mere food scarcity; it signifies the intentional breakdown of essential systems for human survival,” Guterres posted on X. He added, “As the occupying power, Israel bears unambiguous responsibilities under international law, including the obligation to guarantee food and medical provisions for the population. We cannot permit this state of affairs to persist unpunished.”
Guterres concluded his message by advocating for a ceasefire, unimpeded humanitarian access, and the release of the hostages.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), UNICEF, the United Nations World Food Program (WFP), and the World Health Organization (WHO), all participants in the IPC, reaffirmed their appeal for an immediate humanitarian intervention and a ceasefire.
Israel’s Coordination of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) heavily criticized the IPC, accusing it of depending on Hamas-controlled entities, UNRWA assessments, and “unverifiable sources,” while disregarding data provided by Jerusalem.
Richard Goldberg, a senior advisor for the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD) and a former White House and National Security Council official during both Trump administrations, challenged the report’s findings, describing them as politically driven.
“The ideology of is prevalent within the U.N. and far-left NGOs, causing them to alter their own guidelines for declaring a famine in Gaza while overlooking an actual famine in Sudan. The available data does not substantiate a famine declaration in Gaza, but this becomes irrelevant when the outcome is politically predetermined,” Goldberg stated to Digital.
Goldberg additionally highlighted the report’s timing, observing that its release mere days after Israel announced its intention to enter Gaza City — located within the Gaza Governorate — was “the most revealing aspect of the entire situation.”
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee disseminated a statement from Netanyahu’s office, asserting that “tons of food have entered Gaza, but Hamas militants stole it, consumed much of it to grow corpulent, and sold it on the black market, failing to provide any to the hostages.”
Fifty hostages have been detained in Gaza for almost 700 days. Among them, 20 are thought to be alive, while the others are confirmed deceased. Hamas is retaining their remains. Earlier this month, the militant group released a video featuring hostage Evyatar David, who looked emaciated and claimed he had not consumed food for days.