UN declares famine as Israel attacks Gaza City

A United Nations' classification system used to determine access to food has officially declared a famine in Gaza. The UN says that more than half a million Palestinians are facing catastrophic famine conditions, which include starvation, destitution and death. It further notes that this number is likely to exceed 640 000 by the end of September.

The UN has officially declared a famine in Gaza. So far, 271 people have died of hunger in Gaza, including 112 children. The UN is warning that more than half a million Palestinians in Gaza are starving. The United Nation's Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs, Tom Fletcher: "It is a famine in 2025. A 21st century famine. Watched over by drones and the most advanced military technology in history. It is a famine openly promoted by some Israeli leaders as a weapon of war. It is a famine on all of our watch. Everyone owns this. The Gaza famine is the world's famine. It is a famine that asks: But what did you do? A famine that will and must haunt us all."

Meanwhile, in spite of criticism from the international community Israel has proceeded with its plan and attacked Gaza City. Ahead of the attack the Israeli military (IDF) warned international organizations to prepare for the evacuation of half a million residents to the south of the besieged enclave.

For Gaza resident Faiz Al-Raai Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's motives behind the attack are obvious: "Netanyahu says he wants to invade Gaza or occupy the strip. Well, it's already occupied. What's left of Gaza? He just wants to displace people. The goal is to displace the people of Gaza, nothing more and nothing less."

However, Mohammad Juha, a young Gaza City resident refuses to give up his birthright: "Even if you chop us into pieces, we will not leave Gaza, because we were born here. This is the land we inherited. This is the land of our ancestors."

Source: HRT