A UN-backed IPC report warns that half a million Palestinians – a quarter of Gaza's population – are experiencing extreme hunger, calling the situation "entirely man-made".
The report says that Israel's restrictions on the entry of food and aid have left residents facing hunger, misery and death, while attempts to get aid have often proved fatal: the UN has recorded over 994 Palestinians killed near distribution centers since May.
Israel denies responsibility, blaming Hamas and aid agencies, but world leaders have called the situation a catastrophe caused by a systematic blockade. The High Commissioner for Human Rights has called the use of starvation as a weapon of war a war crime.
Meanwhile, Israel's announced offensive in Gaza City, where famine has already reached full scale, is expected to bring even more serious consequences for civilians.
