Geneva, UN human rights experts have expressed grave concerns over the unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where an estimated 80 percent of the population is facing famine or catastrophic hunger. This situation has been exacerbated by Israel’s continued bombardment and siege.
According to Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, the current situation in Gaza is dire, with every resident facing hunger, a quarter of the population starving, and a lack of access to food and drinkable water. The experts warned of the imminent risk of famine, particularly affecting pregnant women and children under five. They highlighted that 335,000 young children are at high risk of severe malnutrition, leading to stunting – a condition that causes irreparable physical and cognitive impairments.
Since October 9, Israel has imposed a “total siege” on Gaza, cutting off 2.3 million Palestinians from essential supplies such as water, food, fuel, medicine, and medical supplies. This has intensified the hardships caused by a 17-year Israeli blockade that had already rendered half of Gaza’s population food insecure and over 80 percent reliant on humanitarian aid.
The experts are especially alarmed by conditions in northern Gaza, where prolonged food shortages and limited access to resources are prevalent. In southern Gaza, many individuals are living in inadequate shelters or areas lacking basic amenities, further aggravating the crisis.
The UN human rights experts criticized Israel for using food as a weapon against Palestinians, citing the destruction and blocking of access to farmland and the sea. Reports indicate that approximately 22% of agricultural land in northern Gaza has been razed, and around 70% of Gaza’s fishing fleet has been destroyed by Israeli forces. The lack of fuel and structural damage has rendered most bakeries non-operational, and livestock are unable to provide or be a source of food. Safe water access continues to diminish, and the healthcare system is collapsing due to widespread destruction of hospitals.
Additionally, Israel’s destruction of over 60% of Palestinian homes in Gaza has directly impacted the ability to cook food, leading to domicide – the mass destruction of dwellings that has rendered the territory uninhabitable. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that nearly 85% of Gaza’s population is internally displaced, with many having been displaced multiple times.
The UN experts have raised the alarm about the risk of genocide, emphasizing the duty of all governments to prevent it. They stated that Israel is not only causing indiscriminate harm to civilians but is also intentionally imposing conditions leading to disease, malnutrition, dehydration, and starvation by destroying civilian infrastructure.
The experts call for immediate and unhindered delivery of aid to Gazans to prevent starvation, stressing the urgent need for a ceasefire and the cessation of the Israeli occupation to realize Palestinian self-determination and achieve peace, safety, and stability for both Israelis and Palestinians.