A new report by the U.N.-affiliated Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) declared that famine is occurring in Gaza, the first such classification in the Middle East
The IPC analysis, released on August 22, describes a catastrophic situation: hundreds of thousands of people facing starvation, collapsing food systems, and over 132,000 children under five at risk of death from acute malnutrition. The report calls for an immediate ceasefire to allow large-scale humanitarian access.
Yet, Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) strongly disputes the findings, claiming that the IPC’s methodology is flawed, its data politicized, and that the reality on the ground reflects unprecedented levels of humanitarian assistance.
The IPC declared that Gaza Governorate is already in Phase 5 (Famine), with famine projected to spread to Deir al-Balah and Khan Younis by the end of September. According to the analysis, nearly a third of Gaza’s population—over 640,000 people—will soon be in catastrophic conditions, while another 58% face “Emergency” status. The IPC emphasized collapsing food production, widespread disease, and a sharp rise in child malnutrition.