The United Nations officially declared a famine in Gaza on Friday, blaming “systematic obstruction of aid” by Israel, hours after Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to destroy the territory’s largest city.

Israel rejected the UN-backed report as “based on Hamas lies laundered through organisations with vested interests”.

Hamas urged the United Nations and UN Security Council to “stop the war and lift the siege”, calling for unrestricted access for food, medicine, water and fuel.

The Rome-based Integrated Food Security Phase Classification Initiative (IPC) said famine was affecting 500,000 people in the Gaza governorate, which covers about a fifth of the Palestinian territory including Gaza City.

Israel has pressed ahead with plans to seize Gaza City despite an international outcry

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