UN rapporteur: Israel has brought Gaza to the most dangerous stage of starvation

The UN Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, said that Israel has brought Gaza to the "most dangerous stage of starvation," and that the effects will last for generations. He stressed that what is happening in the Strip constitutes "genocide, starvation, a crime against humanity, and a gross violation of human rights."

Fakhri added in a press statement on Thursday that what he witnessed during the past months of war clearly reveals Israel's plan for the Gaza Strip.

He continued: "Israel's plan has always been to inflict the greatest possible damage and destruction, and to inflict the highest number of casualties, in order to achieve its primary goal of occupying and annexing all of Gaza."

He added, "Israel has declared its intentions, in one way or another, since the beginning of the war. The situation continues to deteriorate, and we are witnessing a tangible and systematic escalation of violence on the part of Israel."

Fakhri stressed the importance of not forgetting that Israel announced its intention to use starvation as a weapon on October 9, 2023.

He added, "Israel has completely blocked, restricted, or deliberately attacked humanitarian aid convoys. Now, what we are witnessing is the most dangerous phase of the starvation campaign."

The UN rapporteur said that the Gaza Strip had recently witnessed a small amount of aid entering the Strip, as Israel had allowed a very small number of relief trucks into Gaza, "but they did not meet the needs of the population."

He stressed that "the most important thing to remember is that the numbers we have now are always far lower than the reality, because international journalists are not allowed in, and a very limited number of aid workers are allowed to work there. So we know that the reality is much worse than we can imagine."

"Everyone knows that what is happening is genocide," he added.

He continued: "We were among the first to expose the famine resulting from the Israeli starvation campaign. The International Court of Justice recognized the risk of genocide, and the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, among the charges against them, including the use of starvation as a weapon of war."

The UN rapporteur stressed the need for "urgent" access for humanitarian aid convoys to enter Gaza, saying, "This is what must happen, and it must happen now."