For months, Gaza has been on the brink of famine.

However, a group of United Nations (UN) human rights specialists are now cautioning that there is undeniable evidence that famine is already prevalent throughout the area.

“Israel’s deliberate and targeted campaign of starvation against the Palestinian populace constitutes a form of genocidal violence and has led to famine across all of Gaza,” stated 10 independent UN experts, including the special rapporteur on the right to food and the special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territory.

They accused Israel of creating circumstances that have resulted in famine in Gaza, and have demanded an end to Israel’s nearly 10-month bombing of the besieged region.

So, how can the onset of famine in Gaza be determined, and is there a way to prevent it?

How is ‘famine’ defined?

According to the UN-endorsed monitoring agency, Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), “famine” indicates widespread and severe food scarcity across a population.

An area recognized as being in famine is assigned an “IPC Phase 5” rating, the highest phase on the IPC’s Acute Food Insecurity scale.

To declare a famine, three conditions must be met:

• At least 20% of the population in the area experiences extreme hunger levels;
• 30% of the children in the area are undernourished for their height; and
• The mortality rate has doubled from the norm, exceeding two deaths per 10,000 individuals daily for adults and four deaths per 10,000 individuals daily for children.

In famine scenarios, people typically have access to only one or two food groups, and there is a severe calorie shortage – well below 2,100 per person daily, as per the World Food Programme (WFP).

So is there a famine in Gaza?

In its latest assessment conducted last month, the IPC indicated that Gaza is still at “high risk” of famine as the conflict persists and aid delivery is obstructed. However, it refrained from categorizing conditions as an official famine.

While the entire area is classified as in Emergency (IPC Phase 4), more than 495,000 individuals (22% of the population) are confronted with catastrophic levels of acute food insecurity (IPC Phase 5). At this stage, households endure acute food scarcity, starvation, and depletion of coping mechanisms.

The IPC itself does not declare a famine but provides evidence for stakeholders such as the UN or governmental bodies.

Despite the IPC's evaluation, the group of independent UN experts asserted that the “deaths of additional Palestinian children due to hunger and malnutrition leave no doubt that famine has spread across the entirety of Gaza”.

The group highlighted that previous child fatalities from hunger had already affirmed that famine had impacted northern Gaza. With the recent additional deaths of several more children also stemming from hunger, the experts emphasized that famine has now extended from northern Gaza to central and southern Gaza.

In a previous warning in May, the head of the World Food Programme (WFP) cautioned that northern Gaza was facing a “full-blown famine” that was spreading southward.

And as of June, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network (FEWS NET) suggested in a report that famine was likely ongoing in northern Gaza.

What are conditions like in Gaza?

In March, Al Jazeera shadowed three Gaza families for three days to document their struggles with food scarcity.

On a typical day, one of the families prepared saj bread with cream cheese, totaling around 330 calories per person, significantly below the recommended daily caloric intake of at least 1,000 for children and around 2,000 for adults.

Their experience mirrors that of many families in the region, where health authorities reported at least 33 child deaths from malnutrition since the conflict began, with a majority occurring in northern Gaza.

Due to food shortages, some residents have resorted to drinking sewage water and consuming animal feed, according to the World Health Organization’s Eastern Mediterranean regional director.

Why has this happened?

The UN experts have attributed the onset of famine to Israel, accusing it of executing a “targeted starvation campaign” by impeding aid deliveries and continuous bombardment, resulting in numerous casualties and injuries.

When ICC prosecutor Karim Khan requested arrest warrants for Israeli leaders on war crimes charges, one listed crime included the “starvation of civilians as a method of warfare”.

A declaration of famine can serve as evidence in international judicial bodies where Israel is facing genocide allegations.

An independent commission supported by the UN has also accused Israel of inflicting hunger on Palestinians.

Is there any way to stop famine in Gaza?

Aid agencies have been appealing for safe access to Gaza through border crossings for immediate food distribution since the conflict began.

In late March, the ICJ mandated Israel to take prompt action to ensure unhindered aid provision to Gaza to prevent famine.

Despite this, agencies encounter ongoing obstacles. Recently, Reuters reported that numerous trucks loaded with aid were stranded in Egypt for an extended period, pending approval to enter Gaza and provide supplies.

Even if aid successfully reaches Gaza, it may not be sufficient. Oxfam’s MENA policy adviser noted that aid alone cannot alleviate hunger and starvation – a ceasefire is essential to enable humanitarian initiatives to expand.

The IPC recommended measures such as supplying ready-to-use infant formula and micronutrient supplements to the most vulnerable, including children, pregnant women, and the elderly.