Famine has been officially identified in Gaza Governorate, which includes Gaza City, according to a report released by the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) on Friday. The IPC, a global initiative that monitors hunger with support from various governments and organizations, warned that the famine is expected to spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis Governorates by the end of September.

The IPC report indicates that over 514,000 people in the Gaza Strip are currently experiencing catastrophic levels of food insecurity, classified as Phase 5 conditions. This represents nearly a quarter of the population in Gaza. The report projects that this number could rise to approximately 641,000 by the end of the month. Additionally, about 1.07 million people, or 54% of the population, are facing emergency levels of food insecurity, categorized as Phase 4 conditions.

The IPC noted that the figures may be underestimated due to access restrictions in North Gaza, which prevented a full assessment. The report also excluded the largely uninhabited Rafah region in southern Gaza. The worsening food crisis in Gaza has been attributed to the end of a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in March, which led to a blockade on aid entering the region. Reports of malnutrition-related deaths have increased, alongside distressing images of children suffering and long lines for food.

The IPC's findings come amid rising international concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza. U.N. human rights chief Volker Türk stated that the famine is a direct consequence of Israeli government actions, warning that starvation-related deaths could constitute a war crime. The IPC's assessment is significant as it marks the fifth time in 14 years that famine conditions have been identified in a region, following similar assessments in Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan.

Israel has dismissed the IPC report as "false and biased," claiming it relies on incomplete data from Hamas. The Israeli military body responsible for coordinating aid deliveries stated that the IPC's findings do not reflect the recent increase in food supplies entering Gaza. The U.N. has consistently highlighted the challenges of delivering aid in the region, attributing these obstacles to Israeli restrictions and ongoing conflict.

The IPC's analysis only covers the populations in Gaza, Deir al-Balah, and Khan Younis, as it could not assess North Gaza due to access issues. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has escalated significantly since the outbreak of conflict on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched an attack that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people in southern Israel. In response, Israel's military campaign has reportedly killed over 62,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities.

As the situation develops, international efforts led by the United States, Qatar, and Egypt continue to seek a resolution to the ongoing conflict.