Ismail Al-Thawabta: The situation in Gaza is catastrophic and we are facing a looming threat of mass deaths.

The head of the government media office in Gaza, Dr. Ismail Thawabta, stated that the humanitarian situation in the sector is worsening and becoming catastrophic, and famine continues to ravage civilians, despite two weeks having passed since the official announcement of the integrated phase classification of food security regarding famine in the city of Gaza.

Thawabta emphasized in an interview that this announcement and the international statements and positions remain mere ink on paper unless actual pressure measures are taken against the occupation to end the blockade, open the crossings, and allow the flow of humanitarian supplies in quantities and qualities that ensure the cessation of the famine catastrophe.

He warned that the time for blood and the possibility of mass deaths is increasing, in light of the occupation's plans to displace the residents of Gaza City to the south of the sector, and the increasing pressures on civilians, as there are not enough safe spaces amidst a state of systematic chaos and the occupation's policy of "hunger engineering" to push Gazans to flee and be displaced.

The situation is catastrophic by all measures; the famine that has been officially declared is real, as hundreds of thousands face catastrophic levels of hunger manifested in food shortages, rising rates of acute malnutrition, and increased mortality.

This is not a temporary crisis but a direct result of the blockade and the systematic extermination carried out by the Israeli occupation with full American sponsorship, which destroys markets and infrastructure and prevents the entry of humanitarian supplies.

The international community has a legal and moral obligation to immediately stop this crime and ensure the unrestricted flow of food, medicine, and fuel, while holding war criminals among the occupation leaders accountable for using starvation as a weapon.

Famine is not limited to Gaza City, although it was the first area where the classification was officially announced, and indicators confirm that all areas of the sector face similar catastrophic levels and are rapidly heading towards food collapse.

The blockade, closure of crossings, and systematic destruction of markets, farms, and food security infrastructure have made it fragile everywhere.

Even international reports predict an expansion of severe hunger within weeks if urgent intervention is not made, which means we are facing a comprehensive crisis that transcends the city's borders to encompass the entire sector.

I confirm that there has been no improvement on the ground, unfortunately. The aid that has entered meets only a tiny fraction of the needs, and we announced in our statement that the quantities are estimated at only 14% of the actual needs.

Assistance is systematically stolen under Israeli sponsorship, and thus the occupation continues to prevent the entry of the necessary quantities, amidst ongoing security chaos and looting of trucks.

Field indicators confirm that catastrophic hunger continues, and any improvement requires the complete and permanent opening of crossings and ensuring that aid reaches civilians directly.

Hunger engineering is a systematic policy followed by the occupation by preventing food, obstructing aid, ensuring it does not reach its rightful recipients, and destroying markets and supply warehouses, with the aim of weakening the civilian population and breaking their will.

This strategy aims to undermine resilience and push the population towards forced displacement, which is a practice criminalized under international laws and conventions.

The occupation's plan to displace more than a million Palestinians from Gaza City and northern Gaza to the south will deepen famine throughout the sector.

The occupation's warning to residents to flee south is not humanitarian but a means to strip civilians of their land and turn them into permanent refugees.

Our information is supported by international bodies and organizations that there are not enough safe spaces in the southern areas of the sector to accommodate huge numbers of other displaced persons.

Regarding the actual humanitarian needs of Gaza, they exceed 600 aid trucks daily, while the occupation allows only an extremely small percentage to enter.

These limited quantities are subject to chaos and looting before reaching civilians, while the occupation continues to close the crossings.

The number of aid trucks entering over the past 35 days is completely insufficient, and most importantly, most of them do not carry basic food items or essential therapeutic nutrition for children and patients.

These centers are practically used as a tool to impose forced displacement, and not as a genuine humanitarian step.

The victims of starvation are increasing tragically, and they can be classified into three main categories.

The United Nations is not merely a descriptive entity, and its decisions remain ink on paper unless they carry a legal and moral commitment to organize and facilitate the entry of aid.

Urgent action is required to compel the occupation to open all crossings without restrictions and ensure the delivery of aid in sufficient quantities and qualities.