GENEVA: The United Nations (UN) warned Tuesday that Israel’s severe restrictions on aid into the war-ravaged Gaza Strip coupled with its ongoing attacks could be seen as using starvation as a “weapon of war”.
Volker Turk, the UN’s human rights chief, condemned the widespread hunger and imminent famine looming over Gaza. In a statement, he attributed the dire situation to Israel’s extensive constraints on humanitarian aid and commercial goods, displacement of the majority of the population, and destruction of vital civilian infrastructure.
Turk asserted, “The extent of Israel’s continued restrictions on the entry of aid into Gaza, together with the manner in which it continues to conduct hostilities, may amount to the use of starvation as a method of war, which is a war crime.”
UN Warns of Looming Famine in Gaza
His remarks followed a UN-backed assessment revealing that the war-ravaged Palestinian territory faces looming famine. Nearly half of Gaza’s population, approximately 1.1 million Palestinians, are grappling with “catastrophic” hunger, as warned by a UN-backed food security assessment.
Without a significant influx of aid, famine is projected to strike the north of Gaza, affecting 300,000 people, by May. Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN humanitarian agency OCHA, cautioned that without intervention, the region could witness over 200 deaths per day due to starvation.
Turk emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “The clock is ticking.” He called upon all parties, particularly those with influence, to press Israel to facilitate the unimpeded entry and distribution of essential humanitarian assistance and commercial goods to avert famine and alleviate suffering.
He lamented the failure to heed warnings issued by the UN in recent months, stating, “This catastrophe is human-made and was entirely preventable.”
Since October 7, Israel has launched a relentless offensive against Palestinians in Gaza, resulting in significant casualties. The territory’s health ministry reports that more than 31,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed in the ongoing Israeli bombardment in the Palestinian territory.
