Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government is facing mounting international criticism after the United Nations and former U.S. President Donald Trump voiced alarm over what they described as a deepening famine crisis in Gaza. On Sunday, the Israeli government announced a daily 10-hour pause in military operations in three areas of the Gaza Strip—Gaza City, Deir al-Balah, and Al-Muwasi—to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid. However, the UN said the measures were “insufficient,” adding that limited road and airdrop access barely made a dent in addressing the humanitarian catastrophe.
“The worst-case scenario of famine is currently playing out in the Gaza Strip,” the UN-backed Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) said in a statement, citing “mounting evidence” of starvation, malnutrition, and disease, all contributing to a growing death toll from hunger.
Israel has denied the existence of a famine. “No one in Gaza is starving,” Netanyahu said on Monday night. “There is no intention to withhold food from civilians. We have allowed humanitarian aid into Gaza even during the war—otherwise, no one would have survived.”
But Trump’s response stood in stark contrast. In a rare rebuke, the former U.S. President said, “There is a famine-like situation in Gaza. Children are starving. The images coming out of Gaza are deeply disturbing.”
Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry claims over 60,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its offensive following the October 7 attacks by Hamas. Aid agencies have warned that recent Israeli efforts to scale up humanitarian deliveries remain far from adequate.
Israel maintains that it has not imposed restrictions on aid. However, Gaza residents have reported going without food for days, and say armed gangs are looting incoming aid trucks and reselling goods on the black market, according to Gaza-based journalist Rushdi Abualouf.
Israel does not allow international news organisations, unrestricted access to Gaza. In London, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to convene an emergency cabinet meeting as domestic and international pressure builds for the UK to immediately recognise Palestinian statehood.
