UN Experts Warn of Famine in Gaza Amid Insufficient Food Deliveries

Gaza is facing a worsening famine as food deliveries remain significantly below the minimum required to meet the needs of its population, according to data from Israeli authorities and assessments by UN-backed experts. With local farming halted by conflict and fishing banned, nearly all food must be imported into the territory.

Israel, which controls the flow of aid into Gaza, has previously calculated the minimum daily food requirements for the population. In 2006, an Israeli official stated that the policy was to limit food supplies to pressure Palestinians without causing starvation. Documents released by court order showed that the Israeli agency Cogat determined a minimum of 2,279 calories per person per day, or about 1.8 kg of food. Current humanitarian requests are for at least 1 kg of food per person per day.

Between March and June, Israeli records indicate that only 56,000 tonnes of food entered Gaza—less than a quarter of what is needed for the population of 2.1 million. UN-backed food security experts reported this week that food deliveries are occurring "at a scale far below what is needed," citing "drastic restrictions on the entry of supplies." The Famine Review Committee, an independent group of experts, concluded that food shipments "have been highly inadequate" and warned that even planned distributions by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation would not prevent mass starvation.

During periods of total siege in March and April, no food entered Gaza. Although some aid resumed in mid-May after international pressure, the volume has remained insufficient to halt the crisis. Airdrops by several countries have provided limited relief but are considered inefficient and sometimes dangerous, with incidents of fatalities during food recovery efforts. Israeli data shows that 104 airdrop flights over 21 months supplied the equivalent of only four days' worth of food for Gaza.

Two Israeli human rights organizations recently accused the government of using hunger as a weapon, describing an official policy of restricting food to the territory. Despite increased international calls for more aid, Israeli officials have promised only minimal additional shipments, and the number of food trucks entering Gaza continues to fall short of basic needs.